ENB @ CBD ICCP-3, 22-26 April 2002, The Hague, The Netherlands

Third Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (ICCP-3)
The Hague, The Netherlands
22-26 April 2002

Daily Web Coverage: Images and Real Audio

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ENB Summary
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ENB daily reports
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Highlights for Wednesday 24 April 2002

Delegates to the third meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (ICCP) met in two Working Groups during the day. Working Group I (WG-I) discussed a Conference Room Paper (CRP) on monitoring and reporting, as well as how to progress on other issues necessary for the Protocol's implementation. Working Group II (WG-II) discussed capacity building, including the roster of experts, and a Chair's text on liability and redress. A late afternoon Plenary reviewed progress in the Working Groups. Contact groups on Article 18.2 regarding documentation requirements and on compliance met throughout the day and evening. Above photo: The dias during the afternoon plenary chaired by Philemon Yang (Cameroon).

WORKING GROUP I: MONITORING AND REPORTING

WG-I Chair François Pythoud (Switzerland) introduced UNEP/CBD/ICCP/3/WG.I/CRP.1. With some calls for clarifying the timeframe for comments on the reporting format, delegates changed the deadline from six to five months before the first Meeting of the Parties (MOP). The CRP was then adopted.

OTHER IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES:

ARGENTINA prioritized work on capacity building and the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) and, called for use of existing mechanisms.

WORKING GROUP II: cAPACITY BUILDING

Namibia, on behalf of the AFRICAN GROUP, stressed demand-driven national, regional and subregional programmes, and further identification of roles of and synergies between capacity-building entities and with the CBD Secretariat. Left photo: Martha Kandawa Shultz (Namibia) (far left) in discussion with Mary Fosi Mbantenkhu (Cameroon).

TURKEY further highlighted capacity building for risk assessment for LMOs' identification and evaluation.

NORWAY questioned the need for the proposed new focal point for biosafety capacity building. Right photo: Norway's Peter Schei with Birthe Ivars making an intervention .

ROSTER OF EXPERTS

AUSTRALIA supported using a specific budget line within the existing BE Trust Fund as opposed to creating a new trust fund.

JAPAN highlighted transparency in accounting, availability of financial and evaluation reports through the BCH, and consistency with UN rules on trust funds.

LIABILITY AND REDRESS:

COLOMBIA regretted lack of a decision on the expert group's TORs, and, with MEXICO, called for specific language on organization of workshops.

CANADA supported deleting reference to analyzing information, saying it exceeded the process-oriented mandate.

PLENARY:

The Plenary met in a brief afternoon session to hear progress reports from WG-I Chair Pythoud (below right) and WG-II Chair Ghosh (below left). An indigenous representative, noting the seriousness of maize contamination in Mexico and food safety issues in general, expressed concern with lack of ICCP-3's progress.

An indigenous representative (above right), noting the seriousness of maize contamination in Mexico and food safety issues in general, expressed concern with lack of ICCP-3's progress. The NGO CAUCUS (above left) called for an immediate ban on LMO-FFPs until a full safety study is completed, and for speedy ratification of the Protocol. ICCP Chair Amb. Philémon Yang (Cameroon) called upon delegates to identify areas of common ground to progress ICCP-3's outcomes beyond ICCP-2.

CONTACT GROUPS: ARTICLE 18.2

The contact group on Article 18.2 on documentation for LMOs met throughout the day and evening. On Article 18.2(b) regarding documentation for LMOs destined for contained use, delegates debated specific identification requirements. Stressing the need to bring the Protocol forward, some advocated information to include the LMO's name, with documentation stating "LMOs for contained use."

COMPLIANCE:

Delegates considered a non-paper. On information and consultation, delegates agreed that the compliance committee would consider information from the BCH, the COP, the MOP, subsidiary bodies of the Convention and relevant international organizations. References to information from NGOs and the Secretariat remain bracketed. Chair Veit Koester (Denmark) (center right) established a drafting group to address suspension of rights and, under procedures, Party-to-Party trigger.

ENB Snapshots:

BCH DEMONSTRATION BY THE CBD:

SIDE EVENT: GENETIC CONTAMINATION

A lunch-time side event, presented by the Edmonds Institute, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, HIVOS, Third World Network and Washington Biotechnology Action Council, focused on issues of liability and redress. Percy Schmeiser, Canadian farmer, Claudia Schmitt from the Centro Ecologico, Brazil and Don Miguel Ramirez, Mexican farmer, highlighted cases of genetic contamination. Dan Leskien, Adviser of the European Parliament's Greens, and Jimena Nieto, Colombia, outlined the legal implications of a liability regime.

SIDE EVENT: EXPLANATORY GUIDE TO THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY

A draft of the Explanatory Guide to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, prepared by IUCN and FIELD, in cooperation with WRI, was presented and distributed for comment. The Guide is conceived as a reference tool providing an information base on the content of the Protocol, chiefly by means of a commentary article by article.

Links:

COP-6 Provisional Agenda |PDF|WORD|

COP-6 Information for Participants in PDF

CBD-Handbook

IISD Introduction to the CBD Process