One of the advantages of becoming a Party to the Protocol is the right to participate in taking decisions of the COP-MOP. Although not a direct requirement under the Protocol, convening successful COP-MOP meetings is considered a primary and standing requirement of each Party. This is because the COP-MOP, by making appropriate decisions, is the principal vehicle to promote and monitor the implementation of the Protocol.

Preparation in advance by Parties to the Protocol contributes enormously towards achieving efficiency in the decision–taking process and ensuring the decisions adequately reflect each Party’s needs.

Looking at the nature of the various provisions of the Protocol, implementation takes place at different levels: national, individual or at international by COP-MOP. The focus of this module has, however, been on information-sharing requirements that need to be fulfilled by each Party.

Like many other international agreements, implementation of the information-sharing requirements of the Biosafety Protocol is a continuous process. The practical implementation of some of the requirements may in fact be relevant only when and where the situation which gives rise to the requirements exists. However, the translation of the requirements of the Protocol into a specific and comprehensive domestic framework will greatly aid in implementing the provisions of the Protocol.