23 May 2012: The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has launched an Online Forum on Public Awareness, Education and Participation Concerning the Safe Transfer, Handling and Use of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs). The first discussion groups will focus on public access to biosafety information.

The first discussion group, to be held from 4-10 June 2012, will discuss the meaning and importance of public access to biosafety information. The second discussion group, to be held from 11-18 June 2012, will address facilitating public access to biosafety information.

Parties, other governments and relevant organizations are invited to nominate individuals involved in, or responsible for, promoting public awareness, education and participation at the national level to participate in the Forum. The Forum is held under the comprehensive programme of work on public awareness, education and participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of LMOs, adopted at the fifth meeting of the CBD Conference of the Parties serving as Meeting of the Parties of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP 5). [CBD Notification] [Forum Website]