options for national participation biosafety clearing-house - training workshop montreal, 28-29 may...
TRANSCRIPT
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
2. Simple nBCH2. Simple nBCH
3. BCH Crawler3. BCH Crawler
4. BCH Web Service4. BCH Web Service
1. Management Center1. Management Center
SemanticSemantic
Represent.Represent.
Complexity
Options for national participation Options for national participation OverviewOverview
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
Options for national participation Options for national participation OverviewOverview
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
Options for national participation Options for national participation OverviewOverview
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
Semantic Semantic Represent. Represent. TechnicalTechnical
2. Simple nBCH2. Simple nBCH
3. BCH Crawler3. BCH Crawler
4. BCH Web Service4. BCH Web Service
1. Management Center1. Management Center
SemanticSemantic
Represent.Represent.
Complexity
Options for national participation Options for national participation OverviewOverview
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
Options for national participation Options for national participation OverviewOverview
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
Semantic Semantic Represent. Represent. TechnicalTechnical
2. Simple nBCH2. Simple nBCH
3. BCH Crawler3. BCH Crawler
4. BCH Web Service4. BCH Web Service
1. Management Center1. Management Center
SemanticSemantic
Represent.Represent.
Complexity
Options for national participation Options for national participation OverviewOverview
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.
Options for national participation Options for national participation OverviewOverview
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
Semantic Semantic Represent. Represent. TechnicalTechnical
2. Simple nBCH2. Simple nBCH
3. BCH Crawler3. BCH Crawler
4. BCH Web Service4. BCH Web Service
1. Management Center1. Management Center
SemanticSemantic
Represent.Represent.
Complexity
Options for national participation Options for national participation OverviewOverview
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.
Options for national participation Options for national participation OverviewOverview
+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)
Options for national participation Options for national participation ScenariosScenarios
Information is entered onceInformation is entered once
National Web SiteNational Web Site BCH Central PortalBCH Central Portal
BCH DBBCH DBBCH DBBCH DB
Option 2Option 2
MDBMDBMDBMDB
NationalNational ApplicationsApplications
Existing DatabasesExisting Databases
Options for national participation Options for national participation ScenariosScenarios
National Web SiteNational Web Site
BCH DBBCH DBBCH DBBCH DB
BCH CrawlerBCH Crawler
BCH Central PortalBCH Central Portal
BCH DBBCH DBBCH DBBCH DB
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
Options for national participation Options for national participation ScenariosScenarios
National Web SiteNational Web Site
BCH DBBCH DBBCH DBBCH DB
BCH Web ServiceBCH Web Service
BCH Central PortalBCH Central Portal
BCH DBBCH DBBCH DBBCH DB
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