14 February, 2013: The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has issued a reminder for the nomination of laboratories used for the detection and identification of living modified organisms (LMOs) for the creation of an electronic network of laboratories.

The network of laboratories is being created in response to a decision of the fifth meeting of the CBD Conference of the Parties serving as meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP 5) held in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan. It aims to facilitate LMO identification and the sharing of information and experiences.

The network is complemented by an online discussion group that is meeting regularly to consider challenges of LMO detection laboratories and potential solutions. Noting that nominations for laboratories are accepted on an ongoing basis, the notification invites nominations prior to the next session of the online discussion group to be held in March 2013.

Members of the online discussion forum may also be nominated to participate in a workshop on the exchange of information and experiences regarding the implementation of relevant standards and methods, to be held in late 2013. [CBD Notification][Decision BS-V/9]