Notification 2023-129

Dear Madam/Sir, In decision CP-10/10, the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP) decided, among other things, to establish an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Risk Assessment (AHTEG) to work in accordance with the terms of reference annexed to the decision. Likewise, the same decision invited Parties to submit information on their needs and priorities for further guidance materials on specific topics of risk assessment of living modified organisms, including a rationale following the criteria set out in decision CP-9/13, annex I. The COP-MOP also requested the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) at its twenty-sixth meeting, to consider the outcomes of the AHTEG and prepare a recommendation to the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol. Accordingly, submissions to the above requests were received in response to notification 2023 007. I would like to thank Parties and other stakeholders who have submitted relevant information in response to the notification. However, in relation to paragraph 8 of decision CP-10/10, it is noted that only a few submissions were received by the Secretariat. In view of this, Parties who have not yet done so are invited to submit relevant information related to their needs and priorities for further guidance materials on specific topics of risk assessment of living modified organisms, including a rationale following the criteria set out in decision CP-9/13, annex I, as soon as possible but no later than 20 January 2024. As indicated in the previous notification, submissions should be made using the following template: https://bch.cbd.int/protocol/risk_assessment/template_submit_info_cp1010_para8.docx and sent through the BCH using the Submission (SUB) common format accessible here Please also note that submissions should be made through the National Focal Points of the Cartagena Protocol. Full instructions on how to upload submissions are provided at the following link: https://bch.cbd.int/protocol/risk_assessment/instructions_submit_info_bch.docx. Please accept, Sir, Madam, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Acting Executive Secretary

To: Cartagena Protocol national focal points, CBD national focal points (where CPB focal points have not yet been designated), cc: SBSTTA national focal points