To the editor:

In "Four views from Cartagena" (Nature Biotechnology 17, 512, 1999), the first piece, "New confrontations" by Elizabeth Hodson-de-Jaramillo and Rafael Aramendis starts by stating that "Article 19.3 of the Convention on Biological Diversity establishes the need to create a legally compelling instrument . . . to regulate the transfer, handling and use of "living modified organisms produced by modern biotechnology that could have an adverse effect. . . ."

Sorry, it doesn't. The text is available on the excellent website of the CBD Secretariat1, and Article 19.3 states, in full: "The Parties shall consider the need for and modalities of a protocol setting out appropriate procedures, including, in particular, advance informed agreement, in the field of the safe transfer, handling and use of any living modified organism resulting from biotechnology that may have adverse effect on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity."

Following the Rio Summit of June 1992, the executive director of UNEP (UN Environment Program) charged four expert groups with reporting on how to implement the convention—one group being specifically charged to report on Article 19.3. As per the official text, we "considered the need for" a protocol, and opinion was divided; also as to appropriate modality (binding or advisory) if protocol there had to be. I was among those unconvinced of the need, and our chair, Veit Koester (subsequently chair of the Biosafety Working Group drafting a protocol), with the fair-mindedness for which he is renowned, agreed to our publishing (in 1993) a split report, recording both the case for a binding protocol, and the counter-arguments of those who saw neither scientific nor political need, and many practical reasons against.

Given the protracted time-scales typical of international negotiations, it is important that history be not rewritten, nor the original charge inadvertently (or otherwise) revised; we look to you as a journal of authoritative record to be scrupulous in such matters.