1.Calls upon Parties, consistent with the Strategic Plan for the Cartagena Protocol for the period 2011-2020 adopted under decision BS-V/16, which identifies the task of putting operational biosafety frameworks in place as the topmost priority area, to expedite their efforts and to put in place the legal and administrative frameworks necessary to meet their obligations under the Protocol;

2.Requests Parties that have not yet put in place operational biosafety frameworks to submit information on the challenges they are faced with in this regard, and the plans and timelines, as appropriate, that they envisage for the purpose of taking the necessary measures;

3.Requests the Executive Secretary to compile the information submitted in accordance with paragraph 2 above by the Parties concerned and to submit it to the Compliance Committee for consideration and appropriate action;

4.Reminds Parties experiencing challenges putting in place legal, administrative and other measures necessary for the implementation of the Protocol that they may submit their difficulties to the Compliance Committee in order to seek assistance in this regard, as indicated in paragraph 1(a) of decision BS-V/1;

5.Reiterates its invitation to Parties to make use of the programme of work on public awareness, education and participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms, contained in the annex to decision BS-V/13, in order to facilitate the fulfilment of their obligations to promote public awareness and participation, as specified in Article 23 of the Protocol, including for the purposes of developing their own awareness programmes;

6.Encourages Parties to use, as appropriate, the procedures and mechanisms on compliance set out in the Protocol to promote compliance with the requirements of the Protocol.