Consideration of other issues necessary for the effective implementation of the Protocol
The Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
1. Invites Governments to submit comments to the Executive Secretary, by 15 January 2002, on mechanisms to promote consideration of issues, exchange views and, as appropriate, provide guidance on issues requiring clarification arising during ratification and implementation of the Protocol, for inclusion in a synthesis report. [Issues that might be addressed under such a mechanism could include, inter alia:
(a) Categorization of living modified organisms;
(b) Risk assessment and risk management;
(c) Establishment of harmonised rules for unique identification systems;
(d) Transboundary movements with non-Parties;]
2. Requests Parties to the Convention and other States to provide the Executive Secretary, three months prior to the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol, with their views on the items to be included in a medium-term programme of work for the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol and its relevant subsidiary bodies that would be based on the following criteria:
(a) Cover the period from the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol;
(b) Be based on the provisions of paragraph 4 of Article 29;
(c) Rely upon the existing activities of other bodies and organizations relevant to the operation of the Protocol to the greatest extent possible; and
(d) Address the following issues in a timely manner:
(i) Issues stipulated by the Protocol for consideration by the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol
a. Facilitation of decision-making;
b. Review of the modalities of operation of the Biosafety Clearing-House;
c. Promotion of capacity-building;
d. Promotion of compliance;
e. Programme budget;
f. Guidance to the financial mechanism;
g. Decision on detailed requirements for documentation accompanying living modified organisms that are intended for direct use as food or feed, or for processing, no later than two years after the entry into force of the Protocol;
h. Elaboration of international rules and procedures in the field of liability and redress, endeavouring to complete this process within four years;
i. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the Protocol, including an assessment of its procedures and annexes, five years after the entry into force of the Protocol;
j. Monitoring the implementation of obligations under the Protocol and, at intervals to be determined by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol, reporting on measures taken to implement the Protocol;
k. Development and improvement of cooperation with other relevant bodies and organizations;
l. Cooperation, as appropriate, with other States and international bodies on the promotion and facilitation of public awareness, education and participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms in relation to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking into account also risks to human health;
m. Cooperation on research and information exchange on any socio-economic impacts of living modified organisms, especially on indigenous and local communities.
3. Urges Parties to the Convention and other States that have not yet done so to submit to the Secretariat information on national focal points and competent national authorities as soon as possible, pursuant to Article 19, paragraph 1, of the Protocol;
4. Noting that the information provided to the Secretariat with respect to national focal points for the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety may or may not apply to the requirements of Article 19, paragraph 1, further invites Parties to clarify this matter for the Secretariat, no later than the date of entry into force of the Protocol for each Party, in line with the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 19 of the Protocol;
5. Reiterates the call of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention to deposit instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval or instruments of accession, as appropriate, at the earliest opportunity to enable the Protocol to enter into force as soon as possible;
6. Reiterates also the call of the Conference of the Parties to States that are not Parties to the Convention to ratify, accept, approve or accede to it, as appropriate, without delay, thereby enabling them also to become Parties to the Protocol;
7. Invites Parties to the Convention and other States to provide the Executive Secretary with input to development of the Strategic Plan of the Convention, particularly with respect to draft elements relating to the Protocol.
