Introduction

The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (COP-MOP) is the governing body of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Its primary role is to keep under regular review the implementation of the Protocol and to make decisions necessary to promote its effective implementation. To date the COP-MOP has held four ordinary meetings and has taken a total of 64 decisions. This page contains general information about the COP-MOP and links to all its meetings and decisions.

Rules of Procedure

Article 29, paragraph 5, of the Protocol, stipulates that the rules of procedure of the Conference of the Parties and financial rules of the Convention shall be applied, mutatis mutandis, under the Protocol, except as may be otherwise decided by consensus by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol. At its first meeting, the COP-MOP adopted decision BS-I/1 regarding the application to its meetings of the rules of procedure for meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention.

Bureau of the COP-MOP

In accordance with Article 29, paragraph 2, of the Protocol, the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serves as the Bureau of the COP-MOP. However, any member of the Bureau of the COP representing a Party to the Convention that is not a Party to the Protocol, is substituted by a member to be elected by and from among the Parties to the Protocol. The Bureau provides administrative and general operational guidance to the Secretariat between the meetings of the COP-MOP and performs functions requested by the COP-MOP. Decision BS-I/1 stipulates how rule 21 of the rules of procedure for meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention regarding the term of office of members of the Bureau shall apply to meetings of the COP-MOP.

The current Bureau of the COP-MOP consists of the following countries: Germany (President), Cambodia, Ukraine, Serbia, Sudan, Switzerland, Sweden and Mexico.

The previous Bureau which served the fourth COP-MOP meeting consisted of the following countries: Brazil (President), Bahamas, Norway (substituting Canada, which is not a Party to the Protocol), Spain, Cameroon, Nigeria, Bhutan, Yemen, Croatia and Ukraine.

Additional information on the governing body of the Protocol can be found on the Biosafety FAQ pages

Meetings of the COP-MOP

This section provides a link to the documentation and other information related to the meetings of the COP-MOP. Follow the links below:

• Fourth meeting
• Third meeting
• Second meeting
• First meeting

Decisions of the COP-MOP

This provides a link to all the decisions of the COP-MOP. Click here...