Costa Rican lawmakers debate FTA law
Costa Rican Lawmakers Debate FTA Law
San Jose, Oct 31 2007 (Prensa Latina) — The Board of the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly admitted that it is studying 943 of 1,097 motions against one of the implementation laws of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States.
The proposals to modify one of the 13 laws demanded by Washington for the FTA to come into force resulted from the danger that it will pose for Costa Rican farmers and biodiversity.
The parties Acción Ciudadana, Frente Amplio and Accesibilidad sin Exclusion have also questioned the law known as UPOV 91, which will imply the establishment of intellectual property systems on vegetal life forms in favor of transnational companies.
Jose Angel Ocampo, acting president of the Legislative Assembly, explained that the motions would be debated at four sessions of the Agricultural Affairs Committee, starting on Tuesday.
The newspaper La Nacion recalled that, for that bill, Congress had approved the fast track, so lawmakers will have to make a rapid decision, even without debating the complaints.
Later, the proposal will return to Congress for further debate, the newspaper said.
