Options for National Participation Biosafety Clearing-House - Training Workshop Montreal, 28-29 May 2005 Philippe Leblond Secretariat of the Convention

Options forOptions forNational ParticipationNational Participation

Biosafety Clearing-House - Training WorkshopMontreal, 28-29 May 2005

Philippe LeblondSecretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

OverviewOverview

Importance of national participation– The origins of the Protocol

– The Biosafety Clearing-House

An outline of possible options– The different options (4+1)– The pros and cons of each option

Conclusion and questions

The Cartagena ProtocolThe Cartagena Protocol (Quick recap)(Quick recap)

Origins

– Large consensus of the international community on the necessity to protect biological diversity and human health from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.

Earth Summit (Rio, June 1992)

– Principle 15 of Rio Declaration on Environment and Development: Precautionary approach

The Biosafety Clearing House The Biosafety Clearing House (Quick recap)(Quick recap)

The Protocol establishes the BCH to:

– Facilitate the exchange of scientific, technical, environmental and legal information on, and experience with, living modified organisms; and

– Assist Parties to implement the Protocol, taking into account the special needs of developing country Parties, in particular the least developed and small island developing States among them, and countries with economies in transition, as well as countries that are centers of origin and centers of genetic diversity.

The Biosafety Clearing HouseThe Biosafety Clearing House

Importance of National Participation

– The BCH serves a fundamental and basic function of the Protocol and the Parties could not implement the Protocol without the BCH.

– It is an obligation for all Contracting Parties to use the BCH as the only recognized means to make available information required under the Protocol.

OverviewOverview

Importance of national participation– The origins of the Protocol

– The Biosafety Clearing-House

An outline of possible options– The different options (4+1)– The pros and cons of each option

Conclusion and questions

Options for national participation – 4+1Options for national participation – 4+1

Format Format

FormatFormat

Format Format Syntax Syntax ProtocolProtocol

2. Simple nBCH2. Simple nBCH

3. BCH Crawler3. BCH Crawler

4. BCH Web Service4. BCH Web Service

1. Management Center1. Management Center

FormatFormat

SyntaxSyntax

ComplexityComplexity

Common FormatsCommon FormatsVocabulariesVocabularies XML & XSDXML & XSD SOAP & WSDLSOAP & WSDL

No No IT knowledgeIT knowledge

requiredrequired

SomeSomeIT knowledgeIT knowledge

requiredrequired

AdvancedAdvancedIT knowledgeIT knowledge

requiredrequired

FormatFormat+1. Offline Participation+1. Offline Participation

Common Formats (1/2)Common Formats (1/2)

Data originates from many sources, provided in different languages, resides in different locations.

The BCH uses standardized structures to organize, index and report information.

This simplifies searching for and locating information in the BCH databases

Common Formats (2/2)Common Formats (2/2)

The BCH common formats are based on Protocol where possible.

– E.g. Annexes I and II

Main common formats are:– Focal Point & Authorities– Laws & Regulations, Agreements– Decisions Under AIA, Decision Under Article 11, etc.

Controlled VocabulariesControlled Vocabularies

Again, data originates from many sources, provided in different languages, resides in different locations.

The BCH use predefined list of terms and related synonyms used in a specific context

– E.g. Organism names, subject areas, country names

Where possible, BCH uses terms taken from established multi-lingual thesauruses

– AGROVOC, ENVOC, and others

BCH is multilingual, translations allow searching in six official UN languages

– Records remain in original language

Common Formats and VocabulariesCommon Formats and Vocabularies

Whatever the chosen option for national participation, conformance to Common Formats and Controlled Vocabularies is required.

This is the electronic equivalent of using a form (with specific fields for information) with a list of pre-determined choices for each answer (the controlled vocabulary)

Options for national participation Options for national participation OverviewOverview

1. BCH Management Centre1. BCH Management Centre

The Management Center of the BCH is the simplest, cheapest and The Management Center of the BCH is the simplest, cheapest and most efficient way to register data in the BCH.most efficient way to register data in the BCH.

This is the most commonly used solution by governments and This is the most commonly used solution by governments and organizations.organizations.

Semantic Semantic

SemanticSemantic

Semantic Semantic Represent. Represent. TechnicalTechnical





SemanticSemantic

Represent.Represent.

Complexity


The Management Center is available online, as part of the BCH Central Portal.

It contains a series of entry forms that corresponds to each common formats.

It provides an easy and efficient way to submit information to the BCH in the proper format.

Submitted information is immediately made available online upon approval.

Example of an entry form


ProsPros– No software to install, location independentNo software to install, location independent– No maintenance requiredNo maintenance required– Easy to use, fully supportedEasy to use, fully supported– Available in all 6 UN languagesAvailable in all 6 UN languages– Security and backups by SCBDSecurity and backups by SCBD

ConsCons– Requires a reliable internet connectionRequires a reliable internet connection– Records have to be entered manuallyRecords have to be entered manually


2. Simple nBCH Application2. Simple nBCH ApplicationThe Simple nBCH is a Microsoft Access database/application The Simple nBCH is a Microsoft Access database/application developed by the CBD Secretariat.developed by the CBD Secretariat.

Semantic Semantic

SemanticSemantic






SemanticSemantic


Complexity


ProsPros– Easy to useEasy to use– Does not require a stable internet connectionDoes not require a stable internet connection– Information is hosted locallyInformation is hosted locally

ConsCons– Only supported on MS WindowsOnly supported on MS Windows– Software installation is requiredSoftware installation is required– Maintenance is required (for backups, etc...)Maintenance is required (for backups, etc...)– Records have to be entered manuallyRecords have to be entered manually


3. BCH Crawler3. BCH CrawlerPlace your documents online on your web server and wait Place your documents online on your web server and wait for the BCH to download them.for the BCH to download them.

Semantic Semantic

SemanticSemantic






SemanticSemantic


Complexity


ProsPros– Allow interoperability with existing databasesAllow interoperability with existing databases– Relatively easy to implementRelatively easy to implement– Information is hosted locallyInformation is hosted locally

ConsCons– Requires a National Web SiteRequires a National Web Site– Requires a stable internet connectivityRequires a stable internet connectivity– Requires some IT knowledgeRequires some IT knowledge– Requires developmentRequires development– Publishing of information may be delayed (about 24h) Publishing of information may be delayed (about 24h) – Party is responsible for maintenance, backups, etc.Party is responsible for maintenance, backups, etc.


4. BCH Web Service4. BCH Web ServiceSend your document programmatically to the BCH using Send your document programmatically to the BCH using the BCH Web Servicethe BCH Web Service

Semantic Semantic

SemanticSemantic






SemanticSemantic


Complexity


ProsPros– Allow interoperability with existing databasesAllow interoperability with existing databases

– Information is hosted locallyInformation is hosted locally

– Information is published without delayInformation is published without delay

– Does not require a stable internet connectivityDoes not require a stable internet connectivity

ConsCons– Requires advanced IT knowledgeRequires advanced IT knowledge

– Requires developmentRequires development

– Party is responsible for maintenance, backups, etc.Party is responsible for maintenance, backups, etc.


+1. Offline Participation (email, fax, etc.)+1. Offline Participation (email, fax, etc.)

– May be appropriate in absence of reliable computer hardware and software

– Not preferable because of difficulties with:

• Validation of information (by the SCBD rather than the BCH-NFP)

• Timeliness (e.g., Article 11.1 decisions must be registered within 15 days; delays in retrieval of information)

• Removes ownership and control of information

Options for national participation Options for national participation Mixing optionsMixing options

Different options may be chosen for different sources or type of information.

– E.g. The BCH Crawler (option 3) may be used to submit information on decisions to the BCH while the BCH Management Center is used to enter other types of information such as Competent National Authorities and Laws and Regulations.

Options for national participation Options for national participation ScenariosScenarios

Information is entered onceInformation is entered once

National Web SiteNational Web Sitehttp://www.bch.xyhttp://www.bch.xy

BCH Management CentreBCH Management Centre

BCH Central PortalBCH Central Portalhttp://bch.biodiv.orghttp://bch.biodiv.org

BCH DBBCH DBBCH DBBCH DB

Opt

ion

1

Opt

ion

1

Information is entered twiceInformation is entered twice

Simple nBCHSimple nBCH (MS Access) (MS Access)


Information is entered onceInformation is entered once

National Web SiteNational Web Site BCH Central PortalBCH Central Portal


Option 2Option 2

MDBMDBMDBMDB

NationalNational ApplicationsApplications

Existing DatabasesExisting Databases


National Web SiteNational Web Site


BCH CrawlerBCH Crawler

BCH Central PortalBCH Central Portal


XMLXML XMLXML

XMLXML XMLXML

XMLXML XMLXML

Option 3Option 3

DBDBDBDB

DBDBDBDB• In this scenario, the BCH pulls In this scenario, the BCH pulls

the information from the National the information from the National Web Site.Web Site.

• The BCH pulls the information on The BCH pulls the information on a regular basis to check for any a regular basis to check for any updatesupdates

XMLXML XMLXML

XMLXML XMLXML

XMLXML XMLXML

NationalNational ApplicationsApplications

Existing DatabasesExisting Databases


National Web SiteNational Web Site


BCH Web ServiceBCH Web Service

BCH Central PortalBCH Central Portal


Option 4Option 4

DBDBDBDB

DBDBDBDB• In this scenario, the National In this scenario, the National

Web Site pushes the information Web Site pushes the information to the BCH.to the BCH.

• The National Web Site has the The National Web Site has the control of when the information control of when the information is updated.is updated.

ConclusionConclusion

National options for participation

– No solution is better than others– The best option depends on

• the needs– how much information you have and;– how often you need to update your information

• the assets– existing databases– platform used (windows, unix, etc.)

• actual and future resources– IT knowledge– financial resources

Review QuestionsReview Questions

Documents

Options for National Participation Biosafety Clearing-House - Training Workshop Montreal, 28-29 May 2005 Philippe Leblond Secretariat of the Convention