Notification 2013-008

Dear Madam/Sir, At its sixth meeting, the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP) adopted decision BS-V1/13 on socio-economic considerations comprising the following series of activities. Activity 1: compilation, stock-taking and review of information Paragraph 2 of decision BS-VI/13 requests the Executive Secretary to compile, take stock of and review information on socio-economic considerations arising from the impact of living modified organisms on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, especially with regard to the value of biodiversity to indigenous and local communities. The compilation, stock-taking and review of information should be undertaken on the basis of: (a) existing institutional frameworks, legislation and policies on socio-economic considerations; (b) capacity-building activities related to biosafety and socio-economic considerations; (c) existing expertise and experience; and (d) other policy initiatives concerning social and economic impact assessments. All these should be undertaken keeping in mind national and regional specificities and policies along with other commitments. The paragraph also mentions that the purpose is to develop a global overview. Activity 2: convening online discussions and online real-time conferences Paragraph 3 of decision BS-VI/13 requests the Executive Secretary to convene online discussion groups and regional online real-time conferences to facilitate and synthesize the exchange of views, information and experiences on socio-economic considerations among Parties, other Governments, relevant organizations and indigenous and local communities in the context of paragraph 1 of Article 26 of the Protocol. Activity 3: convening an ad hoc technical expert group Paragraph 4 of decision BS-VI/13 provides for the establishment of an ad hoc technical expert group to examine the outcomes of the activities requested in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the decision (Activities 1 and 2 above) in order to develop conceptual clarity on socio-economic considerations arising from the impact of living modified organisms on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, especially with regard to the value of biological diversity to indigenous and local communities, and to submit its report for consideration by the seventh meeting of the COP-MOP with a view to enabling the meeting to deliberate and decide upon appropriate further steps towards fulfilling operational objective 1.7 of the Strategic Plan for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2011-2020) and its outcomes, in a manner that provides flexibility to take into account the situations in different countries. The Secretariat has developed a plan, including a tentative timetable, to ensure that these activities are carried out in a timely and sequential manner as envisaged in decision BS-VI/13. The tentative timetable is attached to this notification. Accordingly, preliminary work is well underway to compile and review information on socio- economic considerations and to accomplish Activity 1. Preparations are also being made to launch and facilitate online discussion groups and, subsequently, regional online real-time conferences, as outlined in Activity 2 above. Following the experiences gained and the resources that were put together to implement similar activities in the context of section IV of decision BS-V/3, the online discussion groups will be held through the Socio-economic Considerations Portal that is available in the Biosafety Clearing-House at: http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/cpb_art26/portal.shtml. Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations are invited to nominate representatives to participate in the online discussion groups by completing and submitting the form available through the Portal at this link: http://bch.cbd.int/onlineconferences/portal_art26/resources_2012_2014.shtml. Forms should clearly indicate the nominee’s expertise in the field of socio-economic considerations, including relevant work experience and publications, if any, relating to the handling and use of living modified organisms. Kindly submit your nominations by sending the form duly completed to the Secretariat at secretariat@cbd.int as an e-mail attachment by 28 February 2013. 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 Organizations