The 2008 Meeting of States Parties was held in the Palais des Nations from 1 to 5 December 2008. It was chaired by Ambassador Georgi Avramchev of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. In accordance with the decision of the Sixth Review Conference, the Meeting of States Parties considered the work of the Meeting of Experts to discuss, and promote common understanding and effective action on:

1. National, regional and international measures to improve biosafety and biosecurity, including laboratory safety and security of pathogens and toxins.

2. Oversight, education, awareness raising, and adoption and/or development of codes of conduct with the aim of preventing misuse in the context of advances in bio-science and bio-technology research with the potential of use for purposes prohibited by the Convention.


Report of the Meeting

The report of the Meeting of States Parties was adopted on Friday 5 December 2008 by consensus, as orally amended, from the Conference Room Paper (containing the draft procedural report), an in room paper (listing participating states) and a Chair's paper (listing the substantive paragraphs).

BWC/MSP/2008/5 Report of the Meeting of States Parties

Documents, Statements and Other Resources

Official Documents for the Meeting of States Parties

BWC/MSP/2008/1 Provisional Agenda for the Meeting of States Parties

BWC/MSP/2008/2 Provisional Programme of Work for the Meeting of States Parties

BWC/MSP/2008/3 Report of the Implementation Support Unit - Submitted by the Implementation Support Unit

BWC/MSP/2008/4 Report of the Chairman on Universalization Activities - Submitted by the Chairman

BWC/MSP/2008/5 Report of the Meeting of States Parties

BWC/MSP/2008/INF.1 Background Information on Scientific and Technological Developments that may be Relevant to the Convention - Submitted by the Implementation Support Unit

BWC/MSP/2008/INF.2 List of Participants

BWC/MSP/2008/INF.2/Add.1 List of Participants

BWC/MSP/2008/INF.3 List of States Parties

BWC/MSP/2008/L.1 Synthesis of Considerations, Lessons, Perspectives, Recommendations, Conclusions and Proposals drawn from the Presentations, Statements, Working Papers and Interventions on the Topics under Discussion at the Meeting of Experts - Submitted by the Chairman

BWC/MSP/2008/CRP.1 Draft Report of the Meeting of States Parties

BWC/MSP/2008/MISC.1 Provisional List of Participants

BWC/MSP/2008/WP.1 Dual-Use Awareness and Oversight under the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007-2013) - Submitted by Austria and Germany on behalf of the European Union

BWC/MSP/2008/WP.2 Capacity Building and Promotion of International Cooperation in the Field of Biosafety and Biosecurity Submitted by Cuba on behalf of the Group of Non-aligned Movement and Other States

BWC/MSP/2008/WP.3 IASB Code of Conduct (Draft) - Submitted by Germany

BWC/MSP/2008/WP.4 Les Initiatives de l’Union Européenne en Soutien a la Mise en Ouvre et a l’Universalisation de la Convention Sur l’Interdiction des Armes Biologiques (CIAB), Y Compris les Aspects de Bio-Securité et Bio-Sureté - Présenté par la France au nom de l’Union Européenne

BWC/MSP/2008/WP.5 Perspective on Oversight, Codes of Conduct, Education and Awareness Raising - Submitted by Pakistan

BWC/MSP/2008/WP.6 Preparing the Ground for the CBM Content Debate: What Information Builds Confidence? - Submitted by Switzerland

Compendiums of National Approaches
Opening Statements
Remarks from the Chair
Presentations of Practical Initiatives
Closing Statements
Statements by Non-Governmental Organisations
Press Releases for the Meeting of States Parties

Side Events at the Meeting of States Parties