Decision COP V/1

Welcoming the signatures of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety that have already taken place and reiterating the call of decision EM-I/3 to all Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to sign the Protocol at the earliest opportunity, and to deposit instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval, or instruments of accession, as appropriate, as soon as possible,

Reiterating also the call of decision EM-I/3 upon States that are not Parties to the Convention to ratify, accept, approve or accede to it, as appropriate, without delay, thereby enabling them also to become Parties to the Protocol,

Recalling the mandate given to the open-ended ad hoc Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in decision EM-I/3 to undertake, with the support of the Executive Secretary, the preparations necessary for the first meeting of the Parties to the Protocol,

Reaffirming that the meeting of the Parties is the only sovereign body with regard to the implementation of the Protocol,

Emphasizing the preparatory character of the work to be undertaken by the Intergovernmental Committee in order to facilitate the work of the first meeting of the Parties to the Protocol,

Underscoring therefore that, without prejudice to the provisions of the Protocol, including time-frames, the meeting of the Parties is the only body entitled to decide on issues that are required to be addressed during its meetings, and to what extent and in which manner it wishes to use the preparatory work of the Intergovernmental Committee,

Noting that a work programme should reflect all issues that the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol might wish to address at its first meeting,

Emphasizing the necessity to complete as early as possible the preparations for the entry into force of the Protocol,

Emphasizing also the priority of launching the Biosafety Clearing House no later than the entry into force of the Protocol, and also the need to engage in capacity-building as soon as possible,

Welcoming the decision taken by the Council of the Global Environment Facility at its fifteenth meeting with regard to supporting activities that will assist countries to prepare for the entry into force of the Protocol,

1.Endorses the work plan for the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety as contained in the annex to the present decision;