Notification 2014-046

Dear Madam/Sir, The purpose of this notification is to invite international organizations, indigenous and local community organizations and relevant stakeholders to participate in the pilot phase of the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House (ABS Clearing-House) and to submit views on issues related to participation of indigenous and local communities in the ABS Clearing-House in accordance with recommendation 3/4 on the Modalities of Operation of the ABS Clearing-House adopted by the third meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization. 1. Participation in the pilot phase of the ABS Clearing-House In paragraph 6 of recommendation 3/4, international organizations, indigenous and local communities, and relevant stakeholders were invited to participate in the pilot phase of the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House by registering reference records through the ABS Clearing-House portal (https://absch.cbd.int/) and providing feedback to the Executive Secretary by e-mail at absch@cbd.int. For registering reference records at the ABS Clearing-House (https://absch.cbd.int/), a CBD account is needed (please sign in at http://accounts.cbd.int). The Secretariat would be responsible for validating all reference records prior to publication in the ABS Clearing-House. 2. Submission of views on the participation of indigenous and local communities in the ABS Clearing-House In preparation for the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol, and in accordance with paragraph 10 of recommendation 3/4, Parties, other Governments, international organizations, indigenous and local communities, and relevant stakeholders were invited to submit to the Executive Secretary views on: (i) The possible functions of a competent authority of indigenous and local communities and of a contact point for the indigenous and local communities for the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House in relation to the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol; (ii) The possible role and responsibilities of the competent authority and contact point referred to in paragraph (i) above, with respect to the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House; and (iii) Who should be responsible for submitting the information on these authorities to the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing House. Submissions should be sent to the Executive Secretary, by e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int, as soon as possible but no later than 15 June 2014 by e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int. A synthesis of views will be prepared by the Executive Secretary for consideration by the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary