In its decision BS-I/3, the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol adopted the modalities of operation of the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH). Section 5 of the modalities of operation states: “The Secretariat may seek assistance from an informal advisory committee, constituted and coordinated by the Executive Secretary in a transparent manner, with a particular focus on providing guidance with respect to resolution of technical issues associated with the ongoing development of the Biosafety Clearing-House.”

Meetings of the BCH Informal Advisory Committee (IAC)

Third Meeting of the BCH-IAC (4-5 October2007, Montreal, Canada): The Executive Secretary convened the third meeting of the Informal Advisory Committee to review the progress of the BCH and provide further guidance on the technical issues related to the enhanced implementation of the BCH. The meeting discussed the following items outlined in the annotated agenda: (i) Introduction and overview; (ii) National implementation, and case-studies of national experiences; (iii) Overview of information sharing partnership arrangements; (iv) Progress in the multi-year programme of work; (v) Capacity-building activities and (vi) The 2007 review of the Biosafety Clearing-House. The Summary Outcomes reports conclusions and recommendations to the Executive Secretary for consideration in the implementation of the programme of work for the Biosafety Clearing-House.

For full texts: Summary of outcomes of the Third IAC Meeting, Meeting documents

Second Meeting of the BCH-IAC (23-24 November 2006, Geneva, Switzerland): In the summary of outcomes of the meeting, the Committee put forth conclusions and recommendations to the Executive Secretary regarding (i) management of information at the national level; (ii) design of the central portal; (iii) capacity-building; (iv) partnership arrangements; (v) compliance issues; (vi) interoperability mechanisms; and (vii) the multi-year programme of work.

For full texts: Summary of outcomes of the Second IAC Meeting, Meeting documents

First Meeting of the BCH-IAC (9-10 November 2004, Montreal, Canada): In the summary of outcomes of the meeting, the Committee put forth conclusions and recommendations to the Executive Secretary regarding (i) the structure and function of the central ports; (ii) information content and management; and (iii) capacity-building and non-Internet accessibility.

For full texts: Summary of outcomes of the First IAC Meeting, Meeting documents