The Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) is the core information mechanism to exchange relevant information for the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Additionally, the BCH aims to strengthen public awareness and participation with regard to LMO regulation as stipulated in Art.23 of the Protocol.

The Swiss Biosafety Clearing House (CH-BCH) aims to interconnect information regarding LMO applications in Switzerland published by Swiss authorities and other institutions. The information is accessible in three official languages (German, French and Italian) as well as in English. Thus the CH-BCH serves as an information platform on LMOs with regard to the Swiss situation and for the Swiss public.

The information contained in the BCH and the CH-BCH targets the following user groups:

• Authorities and national institutions, which are concerned with the transboundary movement of LMOs for deliberate release into the environment.
• Businesses and institutions concerned with the development and transnational trade of LMOs.
• NGOs, like environmental or consumer organisations, which are concerned with the issue of (envi-ronmental) regulation of LMOs.
• Farmers, who might grow LMOs or who could be involved in transboundary movements of LMOs.
• Consumers and citizens, who are interested in factual information on LMOs.

Additional information contained in the Biosafety Clearing House

Information, which is crucial for operation of the Cartagena Protocol, is maintained by the national competent authorities (Federal Office for the Environment, FOEN). Information at the central portal of the BCH can also be updated by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD).
In addition to the set of core information, supplementary information regarding capacity building on implementation of LMO regulation and the Cartagena Protocol, as well as general information on LMOs can be published by other experts on the subject matter.