Notification 2016-042

Dear Madam/Sir, In its decision BS-VII/10, the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP) requested the Executive Secretary to organize, in cooperation with relevant organizations, capacity-building activities such training workshops on sampling, detection and identification of living modified organisms to assist Parties in fulfilling the requirements under Article 17 and towards achieving the relevant outcomes of the Strategic Plan. In response to this request and with support from the Government of Japan through the Japan Biodiversity Fund and the Government of the Republic of Korea through the Korea Biosafety Capacity-Building Initiative, the Secretariat is organizing a workshop on the detection and identification of living modified organisms for the Spanish speaking countries in the GRULAC region. The workshop will be held in Mexico City, Mexico, from 15 to 19 August 2016, with the objectives of providing theoretical and hands-on training on: (a) Sampling, detection and identification of in the context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety; (b) Laboratory methodologies used for the analysis of samples; and © Sharing experiences and assessing national needs and gaps for the effective implementation of the relevant outcomes under the Strategic Plan for the Cartagena Protocol. Accordingly, I am pleased to invite your Government or organization to nominate a representative to take part in the workshop. The nominee must be currently involved in laboratory activities and already possess practical experience in carrying out laboratory analysis based on DNA methods. The official nomination letter should be accompanied with the attached nomination form indicating the activities in which the nominee has been involved that are relevant to LMO detection and identification as well as the anticipated benefits of the workshop. The working language of the workshop is Spanish only.   Participants will be selected on the basis of their relevant expertise taking into account geographical representation and gender balance. Due to the limited availability of funds for the workshop, only nominees from eligible Parties will receive financial assistance to cover the cost of travel and a daily subsistence allowance. Biosafety-related organizations are also welcome to nominate representatives with practical experience in the subject matter of the workshop by filling in the attached nomination form. Funding is not available to support the participation of organizations. Nominations are to be sent to the Executive Secretary via e-mail at secretariat@cbd.int or by fax at +1-514-288-6588. In order to enable the Secretariat to finalize arrangements for the workshop in a timely manner, it would be appreciated if nominations are sent as soon as possible but no later than 27 May 2016. Thank you for your continued cooperation and support towards the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity and 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 and CBD National Focal Points (where CPB focal points have not yet been designated) of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, and relevant organizations