The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Frequently Asked Questions

All Questions


The Secretariat has prepared these questions and answers to assist public understanding of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. It is not intended to provide legal interpretation of the Protocol. Please refer to the original text of the Protocol for any further information.

a. Biosafety and Biotechnology
(Questions 1-7)

b. The Biosafety Protocol and its Implementation
(Questions 8-28)

c. Becoming a Party to the Protocol
(Questions 29-35)

8. What is the exact name of the Biosafety Protocol?

The full name of the Biosafety Protocol is "the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity." Cartagena is the name of the city in Colombia where the Biosafety Protocol was originally scheduled to be concluded and adopted in February 1999. However, due to a number of outstanding issues, the Protocol was finalized and adopted a year later on 29 January 2000 in Montreal, Canada.