The United Nation’s Convention on Biological Diversity being held in Hyderabad is expected to take around 18 decisions on various aspects of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on Friday.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is an international treaty that sets rules for the safe use of living organisms modified through modern biotechnology. The Protocol establishes procedures for making decisions for the import and export of these organisms.
It was adopted as a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity and entered into force in September 2003.
“The discussions are advancing positively. We are close to the decision-making process. The CRP (conference room papers) documents are ready and these are going to the second stage today. These are likely to be decided up on during tomorrow’s session (Friday),” Charles Gbedemah, principal officer (biosafety), Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, told mediapersons on Thursday.
These decisions will cover issues under the Cartagena treaty such as compliance, operation activity of biosafety clearing house, financial mechanism to support the protocol, budget for the next two years, capacity building, safe transport of living modified organisms (LMOs) and socio-economic considerations.
“The date and venue for the next edition of the conference will also be taken up for discussion tomorrow,” he said.
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Gbedemah said that the conference will discuss the second national reports submitted by the 164 parties (countries) and the modalities for the third national reports.
From October 8, 2012, the conference will move to the next level of discussion on the umbrella United Nation’s Convention on Biological Diversity, of which the Cartagena Protocol is a subsidiary, he added.