Cartagena Protocol: negotiations

• Pre-1995 Mandate• 1996-1999 Biosafety Working Group

(BSWG)• 1999/2000 ExCOP and informal

consultations• 2000-2002 Intergovernmental Committee

for the Cartegena Protocol• February 2004 First meeting of the Parties

CBD rules of procedureon participation

• Meetings open to observers

• Relatively open process

• BSWG became more restrictive

Roles of industry/NGO observers

• Lobbying

• Provision of information

• Advisory

Industry participants

• E.g. Seed companies/associations; pharmaceutical companies; food manufacturers; technology companies etc

• Individual companies

• Industry associations (BIO; Europabio; plant breeders)

• Global Industry Coalition (from 1998)

Industry as:

• ‘Knowledge holders’

• ‘Implementers’

Key concerns

• Scope (esp. commodities)

• Predictable ‘science-based’ risk assessment process

• Protect confidential business information

• Preserve WTO trade rules

• No liability provisions

Key areas for MOP1

• Identification and documentation

• Liability

• N.B. Capacity-building activities