1 October 2012: The sixth meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP 6 ) has opened in Hyderabad, India. The meeting will discuss revised guidance for risk assessment and risk management regarding the use of living modified organisms (LMOs), and capacity-building for research and information-sharing regarding socio-economic considerations.

Approximately 2,000 participants from more than 150 Parties, NGOs, international organizations, industry, academia and civil society are expected to attend the meeting. The main objective of the COP/MOP is to discuss and adopt supporting the safe transfer, handling and use of LMOs, including decisions to further the implementation of the Protocol’s 10-year Strategic Plan.

Specifically, COP/MOP 6 will address, among other issues: capacity-building; handling, transport, packaging and identification (HTPI) of living modified organisms (LMOs); notification requirements; unintentional transboundary movements and emergency measures; risk assessment and risk management; socio-economic considerations; monitoring and reporting; and the second assessment and review of the Protocol’s effectiveness.

The COP/MOP will also review progress towards the ratification of the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress, which was adopted at COP/MOP 5 in Nagoya, Japan, in 2010. [CBD Press Release] [COP/MOP 6 Website] [IISD RS Meeting Coverage]