COP-MOP 4 - Agenda

COP-MOP 4 - Summary of Major Issues

Introduction

The fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (COP-MOP 4) will take place in Germany, Bonn, from 12 to 16 May 2008. Building upon the achievements of the first three meetings held in February 2004 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May/June 2005 in Montreal, Canada and March 2006 in Curitiba, Brazil respectively, COP-MOP 4 is expected to arrive at decisions on a number of issues to further facilitate the implementation of the Protocol. The meeting will address a number of standing issues on the COP-MOP agenda as well as substantive issues arising from the medium-term programme of work arising and previous decisions of the COP-MOP.

Standing Issues

Compliance under the Protocol

The meeting will consider the report of the Compliance Committee synthesizing, inter alia, the experiences of other multilateral environmental agreements regarding measures against cases of repeated non-compliance and highlighting the general issues of compliance by Parties and possible lessons learnt on the basis of the information made available by Parties through their first national reports. COP-MOP is expected to consider the recommendations of the Committee and take a decision, as appropriate, including on the question of possible measures that may be taken in cases of repeated non-compliance.

Operations and activities of the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH)

At its second meeting the COP-MOP adopted a multi-year programme of work on the BCH. At this meeting COP-MOP will review the progress made on the implementation of the work programme, including the revamping of the BCH Central Portal. The re-vamping is aimed at improving its user-friendliness and accessibility. Other measures have also been taken to improve overall quality of the information registered in the BCH in general with particular reference to the Biosafety Information Resource Centre (BIRC).

Capacity-building

COP-MOP.4 will consider the status of implementing the Action Plan for Building Capacities for the Effective Implementation of the Protocol and its Coordination Mechanism. It will also consider a report on the operational experience in using the preliminary indicators for monitoring implementation of the Action Plan that were adopted at its first meeting and adopt, as appropriate, a revised set of indicators. Furthermore, it is expected that COP-MOP will adopt criteria and minimum requirements (including minimum qualifications and experience) for experts to be listed on the roster, a recommended quality control mechanism as well as other measures for improving the effectiveness and use of the roster.

Financial mechanisms and resources

COP-MOP is expected to consider a report on the status of implementation of the COP guidance to the financial mechanism, the Global Environment Facility, with respect to biosafety and provide, as appropriate, additional guidance.

Cooperation

There are a number of international agreements, organizations, conventions and initiatives that are relevant for the implementation of the Protocol. At this meeting, the Executive Secretary will provide an update to the COP-MOP on cooperative activities undertaken by the Secretariat, including joint activities with the Green Customs Initiative, the Codex Alimentarius and the International Plant Protection Convention.

Administration of the Protocol and budgetary matters

COP-MOP will consider the report of the Executive Secretary on the administrative matters of the Protocol and provide, as appropriate, further guidance. The COP-MOP is also expected to review the income and budget performance for the biennium 2007-2008 and adopt a programme budget for the biennium 2009-2010.

Substantive Issues Arising from the Medium-term Programme of Work and Previous COP-MOP Decisions

Handling, transport, packaging and identification of LMOs (Article 18)

This issue was addressed at the previous three meetings. At this meeting, views and information submitted by Parties, other Governments and relevant international organizations will be reviewed. The meeting will also consider the submissions made regarding the need for and modalities of developing standards with regard to identification, handling, packaging and transporting LMOs (paragraph 3 of Article 18). Furthermore, the meeting will review the experience gained with the use of sampling and detection techniques and on the need for and modalities of developing criteria for acceptability of, and harmonizing, sampling and detection techniques.

Risk assessment and risk management

Under this item, the meeting will consider the need for further guidance on specific aspects of risk assessment and risk management, and the appropriate modalities for development of any such guidance. Reports of the regional workshops on capacity-building and exchange of experiences on risk assessment and management will be made available. Furthermore, modalities for cooperation in identifying LMOs or specific traits that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health will be considered.

Liability and redress

At its first meeting, the COP-MOP established an Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress to examine available information and elaborate options for elements of international rules and procedures on liability and redress under the Protocol. The Working Group was requested to complete its work in 2007 and submit its final report in order to enable the COP-MOP to fulfil the requirements under Article 27 of the Protocol. At this meeting, the COP-MOP is expected to consider the report of the Working Group and take appropriate action.

Subsidiary bodies

This issue was considered at the first and third meetings of the COP-MOP. This meeting will consider potential mechanisms for the provision of scientific and technical advice to the COP-MOP and the cost estimates for various potential mechanisms to be prepared by the Executive Secretary. The possible options include designation or establishment of a permanent subsidiary body, or use of subsidiary bodies/mechanisms that may be created on an ad hoc basis. On the basis of that information, COP-MOP is expected to take, as appropriate, a decision on the need for, and the nature and functions of, any subsidiary body that may provide to COP-MOP advice on scientific and technical issues relating to the implementation of the Protocol.

Monitoring and reporting

Parties to the Protocol are required to monitor and report on the measures taken to implement their obligations under the Protocol. Analysis of the first national reports received by the Secretariat will be made available at this meeting. COP-MOP is expected to consider issues arising out of the analysis, including those relating to capacity-building, compliance and assessment and review of the effectiveness of the implementation of the Protocol, and provide guidance or take action, as appropriate.

Assessment and review

The Protocol requires the COP-MOP to undertake, five years after the entry into force of the Protocol, and at least every five years thereafter, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Protocol, including an assessment of its procedures and annexes. At this meeting COP-MOP will consider submissions made by Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations regarding, inter alia, evaluation of the effectiveness of the Protocol, including a review of the decision-making procedures and mechanisms and the compliance procedures and mechanisms adopted at the first meeting, in order to identify the difficulties arising from implementation and to propose appropriate indicators and/or criteria for evaluating effectiveness. COP-MOP is also expected to review the experiences with the use of a commercial invoice or other documents to accompany transboundary movements of LMOs for contained use and for intentional introduction into the environment. Discussion on the possible development of a strategic plan for the Protocol, which could be adopted at their meeting in 2010, will also be open for consideration.

Socio-economic considerations

The Protocol encourages Parties to cooperate on research and information exchange on any socio-economic impacts of LMOs, especially on indigenous and local communities. At this meeting, Parties are expected to consider a synthesis of views and available case-studies concerning socio-economic impacts of LMOs prepared by the Secretariat on the basis of submissions from Parties, other Governments and relevant international organizations and take action where appropriate.

Public awareness and participation

Under this item, the meeting will consider an interim report prepared by the Executive Secretary on the initiatives and progress made by governments. This report .includes experiences gained and lessons learned, in promoting public awareness and participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of LMOs, taking into account information contained in the first national reports and the national biosafety frameworks. Capacity needs and gaps in public awareness, education and participation will also be reviewed. Furthermore, the meeting is expected to review and adopt a new outreach strategy for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

Notification requirements

The Protocol requires Parties of export to notify, or require the exporters to notify, in writing, the competent national authority of the Party of import prior to the first intentional transboundary movement of LMOs for intentional introduction into the environment of the Party of import. At this meeting, COP-MOP is expected to elaborate and develop, if appropriate, modalities for the implementation of the notification requirements under the Protocol, taking into account the information on national implementation and experiences gathered through the first national reports and the Biosafety Clearing-House.

Provisional Organization of Work

Monday 12 May
	PLENARY
10 a.m. to 11 a.m.	1.1 Opening of the meeting
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.	2. Organizational matters 2.1. Officers 2.2. Adoption of the agenda 2.3. Organization of work 3. Report on the credentials of representatives to the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Biosafety 4. Report of the Compliance Committee 7. Matters related to the financial mechanism and resources 8. Cooperation with other organizations, conventions and initiatives 9. Report of the Executive Secretary on the administration of the Protocol and on budgetary matters 12. Report of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress in the Context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
	WORKING GROUP I	WORKING GROUP II
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.	4. Report of the Compliance Committee 10. Handling, transport, packaging and identification of LMOs (Article 18) 12. Liability and redress (Article 27) 16. Socio-economic considerations (paragraph 2, Article 26) 18. Options for implementation of the notification requirements under Article 8	5. Operation and activities of the Biosafety Clearing-House 6. Status of capacity-building activities and the use of the roster of biosafety experts 11. Risk assessment and risk management (Articles 15 and 16) 13. Subsidiary bodies (Article 30) 14. Monitoring and reporting (Article 33) 15. Assessment and review (Article 35) 17. Public awareness and participation (Article 23)
Tuesday 13 May
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.	Continuation of agenda items 4, 10, 12, 16 and 18	Continuation of agenda items 5, 6, 11, 13 14, 15 and 17
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.	Continuation of agenda items 4, 10, 12, 16 and 18	Continuation of agenda items 5, 6, 11, 13 14, 15 and 17
Wednesday 14 May
	PLENARY
10 a.m. to 11 a.m.	Plenary to review progress of the working groups
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.	Continuation of agenda items 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 12
	WORKING GROUP I	WORKING GROUP II
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.	Continuation of agenda items 4, 10, 12, 16 and 18	Continuation of agenda items 5, 6, 11, 13 14, 15 and 17
Thursday 15 May
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.	Continuation of agenda items 4, 10, 12, 16 and 18	Continuation of agenda items 5, 6, 11, 13 14, 15 and 17
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.	Continuation of agenda items 4, 10, 12, 16 and 18	Continuation of agenda items 5, 6, 11, 13 14, 15 and 17
Friday 16 May
	PLENARY
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.	19 Other matters 20 Date and venue for the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol 21 Adoption of the report 22 Closure of the meeting