Capacity-building in environmental risk assessment and post-release monitoring of LMOs: current status, priority needs and future capacity-building measures

Online conference: 3–14 November 2008

Objectives

This online conference aims to provide an initial forum for the exchange of views and ideas and sharing of experiences regarding the priority needs and possible strategic ways and means of enhancing the capacities of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in risk assessment and post-release monitoring of LMOs.

The specific objectives of the conference are:

1. To review the overall current status of capacity-building in the area of environmental risk assessment and post-release monitoring;
2. To share information on the experiences gained and lessons learned from the capacity-building initiatives;
3. To identify, categorise and prioritize the major capacity-building needs and gaps in the areas of risk assessment and post-release monitoring of LMOs; and
4. To propose concrete forward-looking measures for enhancing capacity-building efforts with respect to environmental risk assessment and post-release monitoring of LMOs.

The results of the conference will provide input for a background paper which will facilitate the face-to-face discussions at the fifth coordination meeting to be held in the first quarter of 2009. The report containing the conclusions and recommendations of the coordination meeting will be made available to all Parties, other governments and relevant organizations. The report will also be submitted to the fifth meeting of the COP-MOP (to be held in October 2010 in Nagoya) for its consideration and possible use in developing decisions and guidance to advance capacity-building efforts in risk assessment and monitoring of LMOs.