Notification 2026-002

Allow me to refer to Notification 2024-073, dated 15 July 2024, inviting Parties and other Governments to submit their fifth national reports on the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Parties are reminded that fifth national reports should be submitted at: https://bch.cbd.int/en/register/NR5/new (log-in is required) in one of the United Nations official languages, no later than 28 February 2026. Information to assist in the preparation and submission of fifth national reports, including frequently asked questions and instructional videos, is available at this webpage. For other queries or assistance, Parties may contact the Secretariat at bch@cbd.int. Parties are invited to prepare their reports through a consultative process involving indigenous peoples and local communities, women and youth, and all relevant national stakeholders, as appropriate, and to respond to all questions in the reporting format. Parties may use the offline version of the reporting format (available in all six official languages of the United Nations at this link) to gather and organize information prior to online submission. The timely submission of the fifth national reports through the Biosafety Clearing-House is important to facilitate the fifth assessment and review of the effectiveness of the Cartagena Protocol and the midterm evaluation of the Implementation Plan for the Protocol. Reports received after the deadline will not be considered in these processes. Furthermore, in decision CP-11/9, Parties and other Governments were invited to use the voluntary guidance on the assessment of socioeconomic considerations in the context of Article 26 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and to share their experience in this regard in the fifth national reports. In addition, in decision CP-11/10, Parties were invited to share information on financial security mechanisms, together with other information on national measures for the implementation of the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol, in their fifth national reports. The information provided will help to inform deliberations on these matters at the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol. Thank you for your continued cooperation and support for the work of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Please accept, Sir, Madam, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: Cartagena Protocol national focal points, CBD national focal points (where CPB Focal Points have not yet been designated), BCH focal points