and, in the case of LMOs for food, feed or for processing, they should be further addressed by the governing body of the Protocol. (Article 18 of the Protocol, SCBD 2000). The first meeting of the Parties adopted decisions outlining identification requirements for different categories of LMOs (Decision BS-I/6, SCBD 2004). However, the second meeting of the Parties failed to reach agreement on the detailed requirements to identify LMOs intended for direct use as food, feed or for processing and will need to reconsider this issue at its third meeting in March 2006. Biosafety Clearing-House The Protocol established a Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH), in order to facilitate the exchange of scientific, technical, environmental and legal information on, and experience with, living modified organisms; and to assist Parties to implement the Protocol (Article 20 of the Protocol, SCBD 2000). It was established in a phased manner, and the first meeting of the Parties approved the transition from the pilot phase to the fully operational phase, and adopted modalities for its operations (Decision BS-I/3, SCBD 2004). See also Biosafety Clearing-House Substantial equivalence Nagoya Protocol, another supplementary protocol adopted by the CBD References Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2000) Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity: text and annexes. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2004) Global Biosafety – From concepts to action: Decisions adopted by the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. External links Biosafety Protocol Homepage Ratifications at depositary Biosafety Clearing-House Central Portal Text of the Protocol Map showing the state of the ratification of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Introductory note by Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, procedural history note and audiovisual material on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity in the Historic Archives of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law Health risk Biodiversity Environmental treaties United Nations treaties Treaties concluded in 2000 Treaties entered into force in 2003 2003 in the environment Treaties of Afghanistan Treaties of Albania Treaties of Algeria Treaties of Angola Treaties of Antigua and Barbuda Treaties of Argentina Treaties of Armenia Treaties of Austria Treaties of Azerbaijan Treaties of the Bahamas Treaties of Bahrain Treaties of Bangladesh Treaties of Barbados Treaties of Belarus Treaties of Belgium Treaties