Notification 2019-023

Dear Madam/Sir, In decision 14/19 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-19-en.pdf), the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity extended the mandate of the ad hoc technical expert group (AHTEG) on synthetic biology with renewed membership, as established in decision XII/24, and new terms of reference, and also extended the Open-ended Online Forum to support the work of the AHTEG. Accordingly, I am pleased to invite Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, and relevant organizations to nominate experts to the AHTEG. Nominations of experts who participated in the 2017 AHTEG, as well as of experts who were nominated for the 2019 Open-ended Online Forum on Synthetic Biology may be reconfirmed for this purpose. In order to enable the Secretariat to finalize arrangements in time, nominations of experts should be made as soon as possible, but no later than 15 March 2019, via e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int clearly indicating the name and e-mail address of each nominee. In line with decision 14/33 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-33-en.pdf), nominees are also required to complete the interest disclosure form. ( Available at: https://www.cbd.int/doc/forms/conflict-interest-form-en.pdf) The AHTEG’s face-to-face meeting is scheduled to take place from 4 to 7 June 2019 in Montreal, Canada. The Executive Secretary, in consultation with the Bureau of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, will select experts from the nominations submitted. I would like to thank you for your kind cooperation and continued support for the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points, relevant organizations and indigenous peoples and local communities, cc: SBSTTA National Focal Points, Cartagena Protocol National Focal Points