. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/121/Add.2
13 June 2002
(02-3311)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
APPLICANTS FOR OBSERVER STATUS
Note by the Secretariat∗
Addendum
An application for observer status in the SPS Committee was received on 29 May 2002 from
the Convention on Biological Divers ity (CBD) with respect to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
Information provided by the CBD is summarized below.
I. CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (CBD) AND ITS CARTAGENA
PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY
1. Membership
The CBD is an intergovernmental body with 183 parties.  The Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety (hereafter the "Cartagena Protocol") was negotiated under the CBD and adopted in
January 2000.  To date, the Cartagena Protocol has been signed by 103 states and regional economicintegration organizations and 20 signatories have deposited instruments of ratification or accession.
The Cartagena Protocol will enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the
fiftieth instrument of ratification, accession, approval or acceptance.
2. Mandate, Scope and Area of Work
The Cartagena Protocol, which is derived from the CBD, applies to the transboundary
movement, transit, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) that may have adverse
effects on the conservation and sustainable use of bi ological diversity.  The Cartagena Protocol sets
out procedures for notification and decision-making on import and export of LMOS, which include,
among other provisions, an advance information procedure, risk assessment and management, andsocio-economic considerations.  The Cartagena Protocol generally endorses the precautionary
approach, with the aim of ensuring an adequate level of protection in regard to the conservation and
sustainable use of biological diversity, taking into account risks to human health.  The Cartagena
Protocol also contains requirements on safe handling, transport, packaging and identification of
LMOs.
To ensure its effective implementation, the Cartagena Protocol includes provisions for
capacity building for developing-country parties to st rengthen their biosafety-related human resources
and institutional capacities.  A Biosafety Clearing-House is established to facilitate exchange of
information.  A compliance mechanism is being developed to promote compliance and address cases
of non-compliance.
                                                     
∗ This document has been prepared under the Secret ariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice
to the positions of Members or to their rights or obligations under the WTO.G/SPS/GEN/121/Add.2
Page 2
3. Contribution to the Work of the SPS Committee
The CBD wishes to establish a close collaboration with the SPS Committee, as the
development of operational rules for the Cartagena Protocol and the implementation of the Cartagena
Protocol may have potential implications for the work of the SPS Committee and vice versa.
The Conference of the Parties to the CBD, in its decision VI/20 on cooperation with other
organizations, initiatives and conventions, recognized the importance of cooperation with the WTO
with regard to matters that are relevant to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and in preparing for the
implementation of the Cartagena Protocol.  It emphasized the need to ensure mutual supportiveness
with the relevant WTO agreements, in particular the SPS and TBT Agreements, with a view to
achieving sustainable development, and requested th e Executive Secretary to apply for observer status
to represent the CBD in the meetings of the SPS Committee.
An Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol (ICCP) has been established to
undertake preparations for the first meeting of the parties to the Cartagena Protocol during the interim
period, including the elaboration of operational rules for the implementation of the CartagenaProtocol.  The ICCP recognizes the importance of cooperation with other organizations.  For instance,
close cooperation with the International Plant Protection Convention is well underway.  The primary
aim of this cooperation is to ensure that the objective and all relevant requirements of the Cartagena
Protocol are in harmony with the international st andards on phytosanitary measures regarding plant
pests that are LMOs.  To date, the ICCP has held three meetings.
The CBD is an observer in the Committee on Trade and Environment, and has also requested
observer status in the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, the Committee on Agriculture and
the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
4. Reciprocity
The WTO Secretariat has observer status in the CBD and actively participates in the
Conference of the Parties and in the ICCP.
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