In accordance with Article 14 of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (hereinafter referred to as “the Protocol”), in the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (hereinafter referred to as “the CBD”), an Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House was established as part of a Clearing-House in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 18 of the CBD.

At its first meeting, the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol established an Informal Advisory Committee to assist the CBD Executive Secretary in establishing an Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House (the ABS Clearing-House) and providing recommendations to address technical and practical issues arising as a result of the ongoing development of the Clearing-House.

In its Decision NP-4/4, the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol requested the Executive Secretary, taking into account the progress already made, to continue the development and administration of the Clearing-House in accordance with the objectives and priorities of the national interests of the country Parties to the Nagoya Protocol.

In accordance with the aforementioned Decisions and modalities of operation, the CBD Executive Secretary convened the 5th meeting of the Informal Advisory Committee to review the progress made and provide technical and practical guidance on improving the effectiveness of the functioning of the Clearing-House and responsibilities of the country Parties to the Nagoya Protocol to provide up-to-date information on existing legal regulation of access to genetic resources and contact details of persons authorized by governments to communicate on the issues of  compliance with the Nagoya Protocol. The 5th meeting of the Committee took place in Montreal, Canada, on February 13-15, 2024.

Ms. Elena Makeyeva, Head of the National Coordination Center on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-sharing, member of the Informal Advisory Committee since 2014, took part in the meeting. The list of meeting participants.

A complete list of goals and priorities for the further development and management of the ABS Clearing-House is presented in the Annex .