A Policy for Linking External Websites to the
Biosafety Clearing-House

Contents

Policy Objective
Background
Analysis
Evaluation Criteria
    Essential criteria
    Additional criteria
    Exclusion of sites
    Removal of sites
Selection Process
    Decision-making
    Quality control and responsibility

Executive Summary

The policy for linking websites to the BCH can be summarized as follows: The Secretariat will maintain links to related information on the BCH. The Secretariat will consider and select sites on a case-by-case basis, using criteria established in this policy document and any further guidance by the Bureau of the ICCP (prior to COP/MOP-1) or the Bureau of the COP/MOP (at or after COP/MOP-1). External requests to include links to specific sites will be evaluated using the same criteria. The Secretariat will make decisions regarding all categories of websites except government sites, which will be the responsibility of national governments.

Policy Objective

The objective of this policy is to provide guidance on creating and maintaining related links on the Biosafety Clearing-House.

Background

The objectives of the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) include facilitating the exchange of information on, and experience with, living modified organisms, and assisting Parties to implement the Protocol. To help in achieving these aims, the pilot phase of the BCH includes a section on 'related links'. ICCP-2 provided some guidance specific to this issue when it endorsed the following recommendations in the second note from the ICCP Bureau on technical issues:

• Allow organizations undertaking biosafety-related activities to register relevant websites on the Biosafety Clearing-House, including brief descriptions and metadata (to be validated by the Secretariat before being made public).
  
  
• Review and examine the possibility of including other categories of information in the related websites category of the Biosafety Clearing-House, e.g. creation of a biosafety journal bibliography.
  
  
• ICCP-3 elaborated on the topic of related links in the following recommendation in the third note from the ICCP Bureau:
  
  
• Recognizing the role of the Biosafety Clearing-House in the implementation of the regulatory processes of the Protocol, ensure that access to information through the Biosafety Clearing-House (for example, scientific information) is provided on the basis of quality, neutrality, multidisciplinarity and relevance to the needs of Parties.
  
  

Recognizing that the guidance provided by ICCP has not provided sufficient clarification about exactly what types of websites should be linked to the BCH, the ICCP Bureau, at its meeting in Yaounde in February 2002, requested the Executive Secretary to draft a policy for review and approval by the Bureau. This policy was developed in response to that request.

Analysis

Although the main functions of the BCH relate to facilitation of implementation of specific provisions of the Protocol, it also has a more general function related to exchange of information. The ICCP clearly endorsed linking of relevant websites for organizations undertaking biosafety-related activities. The recommendations of the ICCP allow Parties to have access to sources of information that may be useful in implementation of the Protocol, recognizing that information across a wide range of disciplines may be relevant and useful. In an effort to better understand potential sources of information, the potential sources of information available through Internet websites and mailing lists could be categorized as follows:

1.	Intergovernmental Organizations - organizations that include governments in their membership.
2.	Government - any official government website.
3.	Non-Governmental Organizations - Relevant non-profit organizations representing civil society and not governments.
4.	Industry and Private Sector - this group includes individual companies as well as organizations representing industry.
5.	Research Institutions - relevant research centers.
6.	Databases, Libraries and Search Engines - any specific library or search engine that is relevant to biosafety and implementation of the Protocol, regardless of its sponsorship or affiliation.
7.	Journals - any specific journal or publication that is directly relevant to biosafety and implementation of the Protocol, regardless of its sponsorship or affiliation.
8.	Risk Assessment Guidance Documents.

ICCP has endorsed including links to organizations, and has asked the Secretariat to consider including other types of information. There is no a priori basis for assuming that information from one type of site will be more useful to Parties or others than information from another type of site. Within any of the categories above, there will be particular websites that are relevant and useful to Parties or other users for specific purposes, while other websites might be irrelevant or not useful for the same purposes.

Evaluation Criteria

To be selected for inclusion in the BCH website, links must meet the criteria specified by the ICCP or COP-MOP, and preferably one or more of the following additional criteria:

Essential criteria

When evaluating the suitability for inclusion of each specific site, the essential criteria are:

• Relevance: Only information of direct relevance to biosafety and to implementation of the Biosafety Protocol will be considered for inclusion. Specific fields of relevance to the Protocol include, but are not necessarily limited to: risk assessment, risk management, capacity-building, handling, transport, packaging and identification, information sharing, public awareness and participation, social and economic development considerations.
  
  
• Neutrality: All sites will be given equal consideration for inclusion in the BCH
  
  
• Multidisciplinarity: Efforts will be made to ensure that the selection of sites available through the BCH will address all fields relevant to implementation of the Biosafety Protocol
  
  
• Quality: Quality of information will be considered in terms of the following factors:
  
  
• Credibility. The person or organization maintaining a site should be readily identifiable and contactable for users seeking additional information or wishing to provide feedback.
  
  
• Accuracy. The data that underlie the conclusions presented should be clearly identified, and scientific evidence that supports a position should be clearly stated. If possible, sources of the information should also be disclosed.
  
  
• Timeliness. The date of the original document on which the information is based and the date of posting on the Web should be provided, to enable the user to judge the currency of the information.
  
  

Any other instructions or criteria as may be established by the ICCP Bureau or the COP/MOP Bureau.

Additional criteria

Where possible, included sites should also meet the following criteria for inclusion in the related links section of the BCH:

• Design: The site should be logically organized and easy to navigate, and have a clear, uncluttered interface;
• Unique Content: The site should provide information that is not readily available elsewhere, or provide an unusual depth of information;
• Disclosure: Appropriate disclosures, including the purpose of the site, as well as any sources of sponsorship or funding should be provided, as well as other connections with commercial or other organizations.

Exclusion of sites

Where possible, the BCH will not knowingly include links to the following:

• Individual personal websites;
• Sites that contain offensive, inflammatory or illegal material
• Temporary sites such as those advertising products, courses and conferences (some of these can be included in the capacity-building opportunities database);
• Sites that require service/user charges;
• Sites which discourage implementation of the provisions of the protocol.

Removal of sites

A site may be removed if it no longer meets the criteria outlined in this policy document.

Selection Process

Decision-making

The Secretariat will maintain links to related information on the BCH. Sites will be considered on a case-by-case basis, using criteria established in this policy document and any further guidance by the Bureau of the ICCP (prior to COP/MOP-1) or the Bureau of the COP/MOP (at or after COP/MOP-1). External requests to add specific links will be evaluated using the same criteria. The list of links will aim to be as comprehensive as possible, but by no means exhaustive or all-inclusive. The criteria for inclusion in the related sites will be made available through the BCH. The inclusion of Government websites will be the responsibility of national governments.

Quality Control and Responsibility

The Secretariat will not take any responsibility for the accuracy of specific information contained on any websites linked to the BCH, nor for any consequences resulting from the use of such information by Parties, governments or others.