Issued by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is supported by an open-ended scientific advisory body, the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to provide its governing body, the Conference of the Parties (CoP) with timely advice relating to the implementation of the Convention. SBSTTA comprises government representatives competent in the relevant field of expertise. Its functions include: providing assessments of the status of biological diversity; providing assessments of the types of measures taken in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; and responding to questions coming from the CoP.
During the last SBSTTA meeting (SBSTTA 18), important issues were discussed, including synthetic biology.
Belgian scientists are invited to provide comments and editions to two information documents which will guide decisions on synthetic biology during the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties. The documents now open for review deal with the potential positive and negative impacts of synthetic biology, and the possible gaps and overlaps with the Convention, its Protocols and other relevant agreements related to components, organisms and products relulting from synthetic biology techniques:
The template to provide comments is available at: http://biodiversity.be/2716
Input coming from Belgian scientists should be sent to Dr Hendrik Segers by 10th August the latest.
For more information, please refer to the letter coming from CBD or to the announcement on CBD website or send an email to Dr Hendrik Segers.