Notification 2015-001

Dear Madam/Sir, In decision BS-VII/14, paragraph 2, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (COP- MOP), requested the Parties to use the revised format for the preparation of their third national report or, in the case of Parties submitting their national report for the first time, to use it for their first national report on the implementation of their obligations under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Furthermore, in decision BS-VII/3, paragraph 3, the COP-MOP urged Parties and invited other Governments to contribute effectively to the data collection process by completing and submitting their national reports in a timely manner by providing adequate and complete information in their reports, in accordance with the relevant decisions on national reporting, especially with regard to timeframes for the submission of such reports. The Compliance Committee, in paragraph 28 of the report of its third meeting, requested the Secretariat to urge Parties to submit their national reports not only as an important input for planning future work by the COP-MOP, but also as an essential compliance issue in itself. Accordingly, Parties are reminded that their third regular national reports are to be submitted to the Secretariat, no later than 31 October 2015, in an official language of the United Nations, through the Management Centre of the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) at the following address: http://bch.cbd.int/managementcentre/edit/CPBnationalreport3.shtml. Parties are encouraged to use the offline copy of the online registration form (available in Microsoft Word format at: http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/cpb_natreports.shtml) to gather and organize information prior to online submission. National Focal Points with limited Internet access may submit the completed offline form in Microsoft Word format directly to the Secretariat, as an attachment to an e-mail together with a scanned copy of the first signed page. Parties are also encouraged to respond to all questions in the reporting format since complete information is required both for the third assessment and review of effectiveness of the Protocol and the mid-term evaluation of the Strategic Plan which will be undertaken at the eighth meeting of the COP-MOP. It is further recommended that Parties prepare their reports through a consultative process involving all relevant stakeholders, as appropriate. Thank you for your continued cooperation and support towards the work of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: National Focal Points for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, cc: National Focal Points for the Biosafety Clearing-House