Notification 2016-149

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 as 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 for implementation of the Cartagena Protocol. 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 for the Asia and Pacific region on detection and identification of living modified organisms, to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 20 to 24 March 2017, with the objectives of providing theoretical and hands-on training on: (a) Sampling, detection and identification of living modified organisms in the context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety; (b) Laboratory methodologies used for the analysis of samples; and (c) 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 to nominate a representative to take part in the workshop. The nominee must be involved, or is expected to be involved, in laboratory-based detection and identification of living modified organisms. The official nomination letter must be accompanied by the completed attached nomination form indicating the activities in which the nominee has been involved that are relevant to detection and identification of living modified organisms as well as the anticipated benefits of the workshop. Participants will be selected on the basis of their relevant expertise as well as geographical representation and gender balance. Incomplete forms will not be considered. Due to the limited availability of funds for the workshop, only nominees from eligible Parties to the Cartagena Protocol will receive financial assistance to cover the cost of travel and a daily subsistence allowance. Relevant organizations are also welcome to nominate representatives with practical experience in the subject matter of the workshop, by completing the attached nomination form. Please note that due laboratory space restrictions, only a limited number of nominations from relevant organizations will be considered. 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 January 2017. 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: CPB National Focal Points and CBD National Focal Points (where CPB focal points have not yet been designated), of: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Niue, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, State of Palestine, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Viet Nam and Yemen, Relevant Organizations