UNITED

NATIONS	ST

Secretariat	Distr.

GENERAL

ST/SG/AC.10/1998/29

25 September 1998

Original: ENGLISH
COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE

TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS GOODS

(Twentieth session,

Geneva, 7-16 December l998,

agenda item 5 (b))

PROGRAMME OF WORK

Programme of work for the 1999/2000 biennium and related proposals

Transport of Living Modified Organisms (LMO)

Transmitted by the Expert from Germany

Introduction:

In the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, a Protocol on Biosafety will be established. Work is carried out in an Open-Ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Biosafety (BSWG). The Working Group met last time in Montreal, Canada, from 17 to 28 August 1998 (BSWG 5). The result is contained in document UNEP/CBD/BSWG/5/L.1/Add.1 (see addendum to this document */).

In Article 3A (Scope of Protocol) paragraph 2 b) states that the Protocol shall not apply to requirements for transport operations. However, this paragraph 2 (and letter (b) separately) - are still in square brackets.

Furthermore, Article 17, "Handling, Transport, Packaging (and Labelling)" is still under consideration and placed between square brackets, with a note 33 clarifying that some delegations wish the entire article to be deleted. It is envisaged that the draft text of Article 17 will contain requirements for labelling, packaging, transport and transport documents.

The next and probably final meeting (BSWG 6) is scheduled for the beginning of 1999.

Proposal:

To clarify the situation and to avoid overlapping or contradictory rules, the Committee is invited to state clearly in the report of its 20th session, that Article 2 (b) should be maintained in the Protocol (square brackets should be removed) and that Article 17 should be deleted. The Committee may also wish to offer close co-operation to update as appropriate the UN Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods in the light of the Protocol and the need for safe transport of Living Modified Organisms (LMO) taking into account the protection of human health and the environment during transport.

The statement should then be transmitted to BSWG 6. The Expert from Germany would welcome the Committee being officially represented at BSWG 6.

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