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)

19. How does the Protocol address capacity-building?

The Protocol promotes international cooperation to help developing countries and countries with economies in transition to build human resources and institutional capacity in biosafety. Parties are encouraged to assist with scientific and technical training and to promote the transfer of technology, know-how, and financial resources. Parties are also expected to facilitate private sector involvement in capacity building (see Article 22). The first meeting of COP-MOP adopted two decisions to promote capacity-building for the effective implementation of the Protocol, through the establishment of a roster of experts on biosafety (Decision BS-I/4) and an Action Plan for building capacities (Decision BS-I/5).