If there were, says Ms Smithson, more effort and urgency might go into biosafety and biosecurity.

ECONOMIST: Bug-bombs and bacteria: Can the line against bio-terror hold? | The

The country passed strict liability laws in 2009 that negate the need for proof of fault in liability claims involving biosafety.

FORBES: Seralini Paper Influences Kenya Ban of GMO Imports

The protocol will also establish a biosafety clearing-house, in the Canadian city of Montreal, as a one-stop shop for information on GMOs.

BBC: Doubts beset biosafety treaty

"We declared a pause to this important research to provide time to explain the public-health benefits of this work, to describe the measures in place to minimize possible risks, and to enable organizations and governments around the world to review their policies (for example on biosafety, biosecurity, oversight, and communication) regarding these experiments, " the letter states.

CNN: Bird flu research resumes -- but not in U.S.