Notification 2015-002

Dear Madam/Sir, In its decision BS-VII/10, the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP) invited Parties and other Governments to submit to the Executive Secretary: (a) Information on actual cases of unintentional transboundary movement and case studies related to their existing mechanisms for emergency measures in case of unintentional transboundary movements of living modified organisms that are likely to have significant adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, including information on existing rapid alert mechanisms and monitoring systems; and (b) Views on what constitutes unintentional transboundary movements in contrast with illegal transboundary movements and what type of information should be exchanged through the Biosafety Clearing-House. Accordingly, I would kindly invite you to submit to the Secretariat any currently available information on the aforementioned topics as soon as possible, but no later than 31 August 2015. To facilitate the compilation of views, it would be greatly appreciated if the submissions on each of the two topics above were made as two separate documents. Submissions can be made online through the Biosafety Clearing-House at http://bch.cbd.int/managementcentre/edit/submission.shtml or via e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int. I would like to take this opportunity to convey my best wishes for 2015 and reiterate my appreciation for your continued support towards the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: Cartagena Protocol National Focal Points, Biosafety Clearing-House National Focal Point, CBD National Focal Points (where CPB focal points have not yet been designated)