Communiqué: European Union approves Nagoya - Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress

The Supplementary Protocol will enter into force on the 90th day after the date of deposit of the 40th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

To date, 12 Parties to the Cartagena Protocol have deposited their instruments of ratification, approval, acceptance, or accession to the Supplementary Protocol. These are Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, the European Union, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Syrian Arab Republic.

“I congratulate the European Union for its approval of the Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress. This approval is significant. It is an unequivocal indication that this Supplementary Protocol is on track towards its entry into force” said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary to the Convention on Biological Diversity. “I call upon Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Supplementary Protocol to do so as soon as they can, so that this important instrument enters into force and implemented as early as possible.

The Nagoya -- Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol aims to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity by providing international rules and procedures for response measures in the event of damage resulting from living modified organisms.

Countries wishing to have further information on the Supplementary Protocol, including the procedure on how to deposit their instrument of ratification or accession to the Supplementary Protocol may consult the following web page: http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/supplementary/