20th Anniversary of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
Twenty years ago, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity entered into force.
This was a milestone achievement under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Since it came into force, the Protocol has made significant contributions to protecting biodiversity. It now has 173 States and the European Union now Parties to the Cartagena Protocol.
The Implementation Plan to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Capacity-Building Action Plan to the Cartagena are meant to be a framework of broad desirable achievements and accomplishments to help guide Parties in their implementation of the Protocol and measure progress until 2030.
What is the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety?
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty governing the movements of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology from one country to another. It was adopted on 29 January 2000 as a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity and entered into force on 11 September 2003.
The Protocol entered into force on 11 September 2003, ninety days after the deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification. In accordance with Article 29, paragraph 1, of the Protocol, the COP to the Convention serves as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (COP-MOP), the governing body of the Protocol. An overview of the COP-MOP activity is provided in the Meetings of the COP-MOP page.
How can you contribute to the achievement of concrete actions?
Watch Webinar
The webinar entitled, “20 Years of the Safe Use of Biotechnology” aims to enhance collaboration and achieve more concrete actions for the biosafety-related targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Implementation Plan for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Capacity-building Action Plan for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, to ensure the safe use of biotechnology for sustainable development. The webinar will highlight major achievements from experts to build capacity, inform and engage stakeholders to collaborate over the next years.
Global Risk Assessment Workshop: 30-31 October 2023, Montreal, Canada
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is organizing a workshop under the theme “Advances in risk assessment – Twenty years of theory and practice”, to be convened in Montreal, Canada on 30-31 October 2023.
The workshop aims to highlight advances in risk assessment and risk management and bring together international experts and stakeholders to discuss and advance the understanding and application of risk assessment methodologies for living modified organisms. The workshop will be held in the context of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and will serve as a platform for knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and collaboration to improve biosafety regulations and decision-making processes worldwide.
Click here for further details about the workshop
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: Target 17
In 2022, the fifteenth Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The Framework includes Target 17: Strengthen biosafety and distribute benefits of biotechnology. The target aims to, "establish, strengthen capacity for, and implement in all countries, biosafety measures as set out in Article 8(g) of the Convention on Biological Diversity and measures for the handling of biotechnology and distribution of its benefits as set out in Article 19 of the Convention."
Target 17 has two main components:
- Strengthening of biosafety measures and capacities for their implementation; and
- Equitable access to results and benefits
Click here for guidance notes about Target 17
More Information: