Distr. GENERAL

CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

UNEP/CBD/COP/3/28

15 September 1996

ORIGINAL: ENGLISH [ADVANCE COPY]

CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Third meeting

Buenos Aires, Argentina

4 to 15 November 1996

Item 17 of the provisional agenda

UNEP INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL GUIDELINES FOR SAFETY IN BIOTECHNOLOGY

Note by the Executive Secretary

1. In its decision II/5 (Consideration of the need for and modalities of a protocol for the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms), the Conference of the Parties noted that "guidelines on biosafety, including the proposed United Nations Environment Programme International Technical Guidelines on Safety in Biotechnology, may be used as an interim mechanism during the development of the protocol and to complement it after its completion, for the purposes of facilitating the development of national capacities to assess and manage risks, establish adequate information systems and develop expert resources in biotechnology'.

2. The UNEP Technical Guidelines for Safety in Biotechnology were adopted by the Global Consultation of Government-designated Experts, hosted by the Government of Egypt in Cairo from 11 to 14 December 1995.

3. To assist in its consideration of issues related to biosafety, under item 17 of the provisional agenda, the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties will have before it copies of the UNEP Technical Guidelines for Safety in Biotechnology.