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Biosafety: liability and redress. Nagoya - Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol to the Cartagena Protocol

2012/0120(NLE)

PURPOSE: the conclusion on behalf of the European Union of the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2013/86/EU on the conclusion on behalf of the European Union of the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

CONTENT: according to this Decision, the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is approved on behalf of the Union.

The objective of the Supplementary Protocol is the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. The text of the Supplementary Protocol is appended to the Decision.

To recap, Article 27 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity provides that the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (COP/MOP) shall adopt, in its first meeting, a process with respect to the elaboration of international rules and procedures in the field of liability and redress for damage resulting from transboundary movements of living modified organisms.

In June 2007, the Council adopted a Decision authorising the Commission to participate in the negotiations concerning liability and redress in this field on behalf of the Union as regards matters falling within Union competence, in accordance with certain negotiating directives. That authorisation was extended in October 2008 to cover the final stages of the negotiations. On 15 October 2010, the final plenary of the fifth COP/MOP adopted the Supplementary Protocol which was then signed by the Union on 11 May 2011, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

The Union and its Member States should endeavour to deposit as soon as possible their instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval of the Supplementary Protocol.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 12/02/2013.