Notification 2012-051

Dear Madam/Sir, In its decision BS-V/15 on assessment and review (Article 35 of the Protocol), the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP) decided, among other things, that the Executive Secretary collect and compile information on the implementation of the Protocol and commission the analysis of the information with a view to facilitating the second assessment and review of the Protocol. The COP-MOP also decided to establish a regionally balanced ad hoc technical expert group, subject to the availability of funds, to: (i) review the analysis of information referred to above; and (ii) submit its recommendations to the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties for its consideration. With the generous financial support from the Government of Japan and the offer of Government of Austria to host it, the meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on the Second Assessment and Review of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety will be held in Vienna, Austria, from 14 to 16 May 2012. I am, therefore, pleased to invite Parties and other relevant international organizations to nominate one expert to be considered for selection and participation in the meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group. Nominees must have extensive knowledge of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and be directly involved in the implementation of the Protocol. The Executive Secretary will, in accordance with the applicable rules of procedure and practice and in consultation with the COP-MOP Bureau, select 15 experts for the meeting in a regionally balanced manner. In order to enable the Secretariat to finalize arrangements in time, you are kindly requested to submit your nominations as soon as possible but no later than 16 April 2012.Nominations must be submitted through an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Secretariat. The letter may be sent by fax to +1 514 288 6588, or by email as a scanned attachment to: secretariat@cbd.int Please note that the working language of the meeting will be English. Further details on the meeting will be made available on the Secretariat’s website: www.cbd.int in due course. I would like to thank you for your kind cooperation and continued support for the work under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety National Focal Points, CBD National Focal Points (where CPB focal points have not yet been designated), Relevant international organizations