Liability and redress under the Biosafety Protocol

The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety ,

Recalling its decision BS-II/11, which, among other things, invited the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress in the Context of the Protocol to develop, at its second meeting, a progress report for the consideration of the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol,

Recalling also paragraph 5 of the terms of reference contained in the annex to decision BS-I/8 which provides that the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol held two years after the establishment of the Working Group shall review the progress made by the Group in its work and provide, if necessary, guidance to the Working Group,

Conscious of the provision in Article 27 of the Protocol that the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol shall endeavour to complete this process within four years of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol,

Concerned that due to insufficient financial resources there was limited participation of developing country-Parties and Parties with economies in transition at the second meeting of the Working Group,

Having considered the report of the Working Group, held in Montreal from 20 to 24 February 2006 (UNEP/CBD/BS/COP-MOP/3/10),

1. Takes note of the report of the second meeting of the Working Group and the conclusions contained therein (UNEP/CBD/BS/COP-MOP/3/10, paragraph. 110);

2. Welcomes the progress made so far by the Working Group in its work;

3. Agrees that three five-day meetings of the Working Group be convened before the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol in the next biennium in order to enable the Working Group to complete its work in accordance with the schedule specified in the indicative work plan contained in the annex to decision BS-I/8;

4. Emphasizes the need for the availability of adequate financial resources to ensure participation by all Parties in the process of the appropriate elaboration of international rules and procedures pursuant to Article 27 of the Protocol;

5. Urges developed country Parties, other Governments and donors to provide voluntary financial contributions to support the participation of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition in meetings of the Working Group.