Barbados has been a Party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) since the Protocol entered into force on September 11, 2003. The protocol is concerned with the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs). Article 20 of the Protocol established a Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) to facilitate the exchange of scientific, technical, environmental, and legal information on, and experience with, LMOs.  The BCH was also established to assist Parties in implementing the Protocol; and its establishment considered the special needs of developing country Parties, in particular Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which are centres of origin and centres of genetic diversity.

Biosafety is defined as “the safe handling, transport and use of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effect on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health”.

As Focal Point to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the Ministry of Environment endorsed the GEF-funded project “Continued Enhancement of Building Capacity for Effective Participation in the Biosafety Clearing House Phase III” on October 3, 2013 (and commencing in October 2017) to build national capacity in the use of the Biosafety Clearing House or BCH. This is the third phase of the global project and is therefore referred to as the BCH-III project.

Unlike other clearing houses, the BCH is the first of its kind which must be used to fulfil legal obligations under its parent protocol.  Under Article 11.1 of the Protocol, decisions taken by Parties to the Convention must be communicated to other potentially affected parties through the BCH.  It is critical, therefore, that all Parties have the capacity, equipment, tools, and training to fulfill their obligations and take advantage of the benefits of the BCH.

This third and final workshop engaged stakeholders in the agricultural industry, such as farmers and importers of agricultural inputs including seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides.