Notification 2011-040

Dear Madam/Sir, The purpose of this notification is to invite Parties to submit views and other information in preparation for the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee to be held from 6 to 10 June 2011 and with a view to support the implementation of the Protocol in accordance with decision X/1 of the Conference of the Parties. Preparations for the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee In decision X/1, paragraph 7, the Conference of the Parties (COP) decided “to establish an Open-ended Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity (the Intergovernmental Committee).” In paragraph 8 of the same decision, the COP decided that “the Intergovernmental Committee shall undertake, with the support of the Executive Secretary, the preparations necessary for the first meeting of the Parties to the Protocol, at which time it will cease to exist…” In paragraph 10, the COP decided that “the Intergovernmental Committee shall hold its first meeting from 6 to 10 June 2011…” In paragraph 12, the COP endorsed “the work plan for the Intergovernmental Committee as contained in annex II to the present decision.” In paragraph 17, Parties that are developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing states amongst them, and Parties with economies in transition, were invited “to make an initial identification of their needs in relation to capacity-building, capacity development and strengthening of human resources and institutional capacities in order to effectively implement the Protocol and to make this information available to the Executive Secretary no later than two months prior to the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee”. 1) Identification of capacity-building needs In accordance with decision X/1, paragraph 17 set out above, Parties that are developing countries are invited to make available information to the Executive Secretary regarding their needs in relation to capacity-building, capacity development and strengthening of human resources and institutional capacities in order to effectively implement the Protocol as soon as possible and no later than 31 March 2011. 2) Submission of views Furthermore, in preparation for the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee, Parties are kindly invited to provide views to the Executive Secretary, as soon as possible and no later than 15 March 2011, on the following issues for consideration by the Intergovernmental Committee at its first meeting, in accordance with annex II to Decision X/1: • The modalities of operation of the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House; • Measures to assist in the capacity-building, capacity development and strengthening of human resources and institutional capacities in developing countries; • Measures to raise awareness of the importance of genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, and related access and benefit-sharing issues; and • Cooperative procedures and institutional mechanisms to promote compliance with the Protocol and to address cases of non-compliance, including procedures and mechanisms to offer advice or assistance. Other information in support of the implementation of the Protocol In paragraph 18, the Executive Secretary was requested “to collect and make available on the clearing-house mechanism sectoral and cross-sectoral model contractual clauses for mutually agreed terms”, and in paragraph 19, “to collect and make available on the clearing-house mechanism existing guidelines and codes of conduct related to access and benefit-sharing”. In light of the above, Parties are kindly invited to submit to the Executive Secretary, at their earliest convenience, information on: • Sectoral and cross-sectoral model contractual clauses for mutually agreed terms; and • Existing guidelines and codes of conduct related to access and benefit-sharing. Please note that all submissions should be sent through an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary by email to secretariat@cbd.int, and in order to facilitate preparatory work for the meeting, all submissions should be provided in Word format. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points, ABS National Focal Points and ICNP National Focal Points