A joint Aarhus Convention/Cartagena Protocol workshop on public awareness, access to information and participation regarding living modified organisms/genetically modified organisms (LMOs/GMOs) was held on 8 - 9 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan, immediately before the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP).

The workshop was organized in response to COP-MOP decisions BS-II/6 and BS-II/13 and to decision II/1 of the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention which call for cooperation between the Aarhus Convention and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety with a view to maximizing synergy and avoiding duplication of effort.

The workshop was intended to provide an opportunity for participants to share knowledge and experiences and lessons learned in promoting public awareness, access to information and participation in the subject area. It also produced recommendations to contribute to the discussions on the programme of work on public awareness, education and participation concerning LMOs/GMOs at COP-MOP 5 and also to facilitate the implementation of the Aarhus Convention’s Almaty Amendment on GMOs.

Focal points to both agreements were encouraged to collaborate closely on the preparation for the workshop and on the expected contributions from their respective countries to the formal sessions of COP-MOP.