CANADA proposed to refer to unique identifiers for transgenic plants, "which have been approved for commercialization".

AUSTRALIA asked to refer to a unique identification system which "is yet to be developed".

Contact group co-Chair Schoonejans (France) (above) reported on progress of the contact group on documentation requirements for LMO-FFPs.

IRAN welcomed the participation of non-parties and civil society in the technical expert group, but asked that it only consider Parties' views. Above photo: Behad Gharyazi (Iran)

The EC suggested that the technical expert group prioritize work on type, content, and the extent and modality of using unique identifiers. Above photo: Jill Hanna (EC) conferring with Christophe Bail (EC).

Above photo: Kirsty Galloway McLean (CBD) and WG-I Chair François Pythoud (Switzerland).

During a night session, WG-II Chair Amb. Philémon Yang (Cameroon) (center) introduced a text on draft procedures and mechanisms on compliance prepared by a Friends of the Chair group. Stressing that the text represents a delicate balance taking all interests into consideration, he noted the establishment of a fifteen-member compliance committee to work under COP/MOP guidance. Parties adopted the text on Thursday at 22:55 with no amendments. The Secretariat explained that the committee's members would be nominated by regional groups and elected by the COP/MOP in Friday's closing Plenary. 

Above photo: WG-II dais Chaired by Amb. Philémon Yang with assistance from (from left) Erie Tamale, Dan Ogolla, Xueman Wang and Camilla Mathiessen of the CBD.

Above photo: David Hafashimana (Uganda) (center) coordinating with other African coucntries.

René Lefeber (Netherlands) reported on the outcome of the Friends of the Chair group on liability and redress, noting that, inter alia, a paragraph on the clarification of Article 27 (liability and redress) of the Protocol had been deleted.

The US requested Parties to reintegrate references to the evaluation of national and international rules of procedure on liability and redress and gap analysis as basis for the work of the expert group.

WG-II Chair Amb. Philémon Yang said that all the concerns of the Parties to the Protocol had been taken into account and that requests of non-parties would not be considered at this point.

WG-I Chair François Pythoud (Switzerland) (right) reported on progress made on handling, packaging, transport and identification of LMOs. WG-II Chair Amb. Philémon Yang (Cameroon) reported on progress made on liability and redress, and compliance.

COP/MOP-1 President Dato' Seri Law (above) proposed that delegates adopt decisions on procedures and mechanism for facilitating decision-making by Parties of import, and the revised medium term programme of work for COP/MOP-2 to COP/MOP-5.

John Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda) (above) reported that the budget group had concluded its work and approved a draft decision on the budget. 

Above photo: Li Ching Lim (Third World Network). 

Beth Burrows (the Edmonds Institute) thanked delegates, on behalf of participating NGOs, for their work, and underlined that decisions taken by COP/MOP should reflect the consensus of the Parties and those willing to ratify.