Activities 2017-2018

In response to decision CP-VIII/13, the Executive Secretary, in consultation with the Bureau of the COP-MOP, selected experts nominated by Parties to replace experts that were no longer available to service on the AHTEG as well as an expert nominated by indigenous peoples and local communities. The composition of the AHTEG was published in notification 2017-63.

The Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Socio-economic Considerations met again in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 9 to 13 October 2017.

Pursuant to paragraph 2 of decision CP-VIII/13, the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Socio-economic Considerations worked on the guidelines envisaged under the outcomes for operational objectives 1.7 of the Strategic Plan for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Following extensive discussions, the AHTEG agreed on the draft “Guidance on the assessment of socio-economic considerations in the context of Article 26 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety” as contained in the annex to its report.

Among other things, the AHTEG recommended that the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties, at its ninth meeting, consider the report of the meeting of the AHTEG, including the draft Guidance. The Group also noted that further work was needed to supplement the draft Guidance, in particular on the application of methodologies and examples of application of socio-economic considerations. The Group made some recommendations to COP-MOP in this regard.