Notification 2013-029

Dear Madam/Sir, Article 14 of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing establishes an Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House (ABS Clearing-House) as part of the clearing-house mechanism under Article 18, paragraph 3 of the Convention. In accordance with recommendation I/1 of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol, the Executive Secretary is currently implementing the pilot phase of ABS Clearing-House based on the guidance set out in the annex to this recommendation. At its eleventh meeting, the Conference of the Parties, in decision XI/1, section C, paragraph 1, established an informal advisory committee (IAC) to assist the Executive Secretary with the implementation of the ABS Clearing-House pilot phase and to provide technical guidance with respect to the resolution of technical issues arising from the ongoing development of the pilot phase of the ABS Clearing-House until the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol. In paragraph 3 of the same decision, the Conference of the Parties decided that the IAC will hold one meeting, subject to the availability of financial resources, and informal online discussions, as needed, and report on the outcomes of its work to the third meeting of Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol. I am pleased to announce that, following the generous financial contribution of the European Commission, a meeting of the IAC is tentatively scheduled for 2-4 October 2013 at the Secretariat in Montreal, Canada. The meeting will be held in the English language. Documents for the meeting, including an information note for participants, will be made available as soon as practicable on the website of the Convention at the following address: http://www.cbd.int/meetings/. In decision XI/1, section C, paragraph 1, the Conference of the Parties stipulated that, the informal advisory committee shall be regionally balanced and composed of fifteen experts selected on the basis of nominations provided by Parties. Accordingly, Parties are invited to nominate one expert each as soon as possible but no later than 5 June 2013. Nominated experts should have knowledge in the fields of access and benefit-sharing and practical experience with regard to information-sharing and knowledge management systems and the establishment of clearing-houses. The nomination should be in the form of an official letter together with the curriculum vitae of the nominated expert addressed to the CBD Executive Secretary. The letter should be signed by the CBD National Focal Point, or a senior government official, and should contain the name and full contact information of the nominated participant, including email address. This letter can either be scanned and emailed to secretariat@cbd.int or faxed to the Secretariat at + 1 514 288 6588. Based on the nominations received, the Executive Secretary will select participants for the informal advisory committee on the basis of their expertise, the need to ensure fair and equitable geographical distribution, as well as gender balance. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points and ICNP National Focal Points