The Protocol establishes the Biosafety Clearing-House.[1]

In order to implement the Protocol, Parties, and other entities (e.g. exporters; importers) dealing with LMOs, need access to information about applicable laws and regulations affecting LMOs, and about LMOs themselves.

The BCH is the primary mechanism through which this information will be available, and is therefore a cornerstone of the Protocol’s biosafety regime. The BCH will be particularly important with regard to the transboundary movement of LMOs-FFP.[2]

Parties to the Protocol are obliged to make certain information available through the BCH. But the BCH also gives countries access to important information provided by others: for example, about relevant national laws and regulations; about decisions other countries have made regarding specific LMOs and about biosafety-related capacity-building initiatives and assistance.

The Protocol sets out some specific requirements regarding the categories of information to be made available through the BCH. Further specific requirements may also be established in the future by the COP/MOP.[3]

Specific requirements and opportunities related to the BCH are explained in more detail in Module 2: “An Introduction to the BCH”.