The aims of the CBD are conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of biological resources, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. Parties to the convention are called upon to establish or maintain means to regulate, manage or control the risks associated with the use and release of living modified organisms resulting from biotechnology which are likely to have adverse impacts on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. Article 19 (3) deals with the need for and modalities of a protocol for the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from biotechnology that may have adverse effect on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.

Chapter 16 deals specifically with the environmentally sound management of biotechnology. The document notes the significant contribution of biotechnology in enabling the development of, for example, better health care, enhanced food security through sustainable agricultural practices, improved supplies of potable water, more efficient industrial development processes transforming raw materials, support for sustainable methods of afforestation and reforestation, and detoxification of hazardous wastes. Agenda 21 also highlights the fact that biotechnology offers new opportunities for global partnerships between countries rich in biological resources and those who have the technological expertise to transform such resources so that they can serve the needs of sustainable development. Programme areas to foster internationally agreed principles to be applied to ensure the environmentally sound management of biotechnology, to engender public trust and confidence, to promote the development of sustainable applications of biotechnology and to establish appropriate enabling mechanisms, especially within developing countries, through the following programme areas: