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ICNP 2 Recommendations

ICNP 2 Recommendation 2/4

2/4. Modalities of operation of the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-house

The Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization
Stressing the importance of developing the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-house as an integral part of the operations of the Nagoya Protocol and the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity, serving as a means for sharing information related to access and benefit-sharing, in accordance with Article 14 of the Protocol, and without prejudice to its operational independence and efficacy,
1.Takes note of the suggested mechanisms and applications to be developed for the pilot phase of the ABS Clearing-house;
2.Urges the Executive Secretary to expedite the implementation of the pilot phase of the ABS Clearing-house;
3.Invites all Parties, other Governments, and as appropriate, international organizations, indigenous and local communities, and relevant stakeholders to participate in the pilot phase of the ABS Clearing-House;
4.Requests the Executive Secretary, in consultation with Parties, to further explore opportunities for collaboration with partners and other data providers in the development of the ABS Clearing-house once further progress has been made in the implementation of the pilot phase;
5.Requests the Executive Secretary to prepare a report on progress in the implementation of the pilot phase of the ABS Clearing-house, including an indicative work plan and timeline for activities to take place until the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol, as well as an updated estimate of resource requirements for the consideration of Parties at the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties, and report on progress at a future meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee and/or to the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol;
6.Requests the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to take into account the points that may require further consideration1 for the ABS Clearing-house and to suggest ways of reaching common understanding of these points informed by lessons learned from the pilot phase of the ABS Clearing-house;
7.Recommends that the Conference of the Parties at its eleventh meeting adopt a decision along the following lines:
The Conference of the Parties,
1.Welcomes the pilot phase of the ABS Clearing-house and establishes an informal advisory committee in order to assist the Executive Secretary with the implementation of the ABS Clearing-house pilot phase and to provide technical guidance with respect to 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. The Informal Advisory Committee shall be regionally balanced and composed of fifteen experts selected on the basis of nominations provided by Parties;
2.Endorses the indicative work plan and timeline for activities to take place until the first Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol;
3.Decides that the informal advisory committee 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 a future meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee or the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol;
4.Invites Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to provide financial support for the organization of a meeting of the informal advisory committee;
5.Requests the Executive Secretary to further refine the draft modalities of operation2 once further progress is made on the implementation of the pilot phase of the ABS Clearing-house, taking into account the views expressed at the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee, and submit them for the consideration of Parties at a future meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee and/or the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol.

1Paragraph 7 of the annex to the Report of the Expert Meeting on the Modalities of Operation of The Access and Benefit-Sharing Clearing-House (UNEP/CBD/ABS/EM-CH/1/4)
2As set out in the annex to document UNEP/CBD/ICNP/2/9