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)

22. How does the Protocol address public awareness and participation?

The Protocol requires Parties to promote and facilitate, on their own and in cooperation with other States and international bodies, public awareness, education and participation concerning the subject of the Protocol and to ensure that the public has access to information on LMOs that may be imported. In accordance with the laws and regulations of Parties, the public is to be consulted in the decision-making process regarding LMOs, made aware of the results of such decisions and informed about the means of public access to the Biosafety Clearing-House. (see Article 23)

According to the medium-term programme of work adopted by the first meeting of COP-MOP (see Decision BS-I/12), the issue of public awareness and participation will be considered at the second meeting of COP-MOP, to be held in the second quarter of 2005 (see Decision BS-I/13).