Cooperation between the secretariats of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is governed by a Memorandum of Cooperation signed in February 2004 to promote synergy, avoid overlaps and unnecessary duplication, and ensure effective cooperation in joint activities. This joint work is mandated by relevant decisions of the governing bodies, in particular decisions VI/23, VII/13,VIII/27 and IX/4 of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the CBD, decisions BS-I/5 and BS-III/6 of the COP serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and decisions of the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM) taken at its sixth and seventh sessions on the issue of cooperation with CBD.
This joint work programme is aimed at establishing synergy within the CBD and IPPC mandates, which, among others, include the following elements: