ENB:09:65
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BIOSAFETY (AGENDA ITEM 17)
As a basis for their deliberations in the COW on Friday, 8 November, delegates considered the Report of the First Meeting of the Open-Ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Biosafety (BSWG) (UNEP/CBD/COP/3/26) and the Progress Report on the Elaboration of a Protocol on Biosafety (UNEP/CBD/COP/3/27). The Chair of the BSWG, Veit Koester (Denmark) presented the meeting’s procedural recommendations to the COP: to devise a ten-member Bureau; to maintain the Bureau throughout the process; and to convene two meetings in 1997. Most delegations expressed support for the establishment of a ten-member Bureau, but were divided on the issue of its permanence.
BOLIVIA, VENEZUELA, EQUATORIAL GUINEA and TUNISIA stated that socio- economic considerations and liability should be addressed in future protocol negotiations.
CAMEROON, TANZANIA, the UK, RUSSIA, MEXICO, ZIMBABWE, NEW ZEALAND and TUNISIA underscored the need for capacity building in biosafety. MOROCCO called for national legislation and funding for biosafety in developing countries. SWITZERLAND, as well as GUATEMALA (on behalf of EL SALVADOR and HONDURAS), noted the need to establish regional structures on risk assessment, Article 8(j) and capacity building. TUNISIA stated that a protocol should address prior informed agreement.
MALAYSIA, SWITZERLAND and ITALY endorsed the UNEP International Technical Guidelines for Safety in Biotechnology. ITALY stated that the Guidelines should be periodically updated to keep track of scientific progress in biotechnology and biosafety. BRAZIL expressed support for the Guidelines as an interim mechanism until a protocol is finalized. NORWAY noted that the Guidelines should not prejudice or exclude any relevant elements from a future biosafety protocol.
While the draft decision on biosafety was tabled on Monday, 11 November, it was not adopted until Wednesday, 13 November, after further informal and regional consultations at the request of the G-77/China. In the final decision (UNEP/CBD/COP/3/L.15) the COP: recalls that the BSWG shall complete its work on developing a protocol in 1998 as a matter of urgency; supports a two-track process through which the UNEP Guidelines can contribute to a biosafety protocol without prejudicing its development and conclusion; and endorses the importance of capacity building in biosafety and the request to provide financial resources to developing countries for this purpose. Also according to this decision, before the next meeting of the BSWG in 1997, each region will nominate two representatives to the Bureau, which shall remain in office under the chairmanship of Veit Koester (Denmark) until COP-4.
During the closing plenary, the Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG) confirmed Denmark as the Chair and nominated New Zealand to the Bureau. The African Group nominated Mauritius and Ethiopia.