Liability and redress (Article 27)

The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety,

Recalling Article 27 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety,

Also recalling its decision BS-I/8, in which it decided to establish an Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress, with the terms of reference set out in the annex to the decision, to carry out the process pursuant to Article 27 of the Protocol,

Conscious of the provision in Article 27 of the Protocol that the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol shall endeavour to complete this process within four years of the first meeting of Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol,

Noting the report of the Technical Group of Experts on Liability and Redress in the Context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which met in Montreal from 18 to 20 October 2004 in preparation for the first meeting of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group (UNEP/CBD/BS/COP-MOP/2/INF/5),

Having considered the report of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress on the work of its first meeting, held in Montreal from 25 to 27 May 2005 (UNEP/CBD/BS/COP-MOP/2/11),

Recalling that, in accordance with paragraph 5 of the terms of reference of the Working Group, at its first meeting held two years after the establishment of the Working Group, the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to review progress and as necessary provide guidance to the Group,

1. Takes note of the report of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group and the conclusions contained therein (UNEP/CBD/BS/COP-MOP/2/11, para. 44);

2. Calls upon Parties, other Governments and other stakeholders in a position to do so to provide financial resources for the organization of the meetings of the Working Group envisaged in the indicative work plan contained in decision BS-I/8;

3. Agrees that the second meeting of the Working Group should be convened before the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol and calls upon Parties, other Governments and other stakeholders in a position to do so to provide the necessary financial resources to enable the participation of developing country Parties and Parties with economies in transition as provided for in decision BS-I/10;

4. Invites the Working Group at its second meeting to develop, for the consideration of the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties, a report on the progress made to date.