This forum follows-up on the suggested changes to the ABS Clearing-House that were discussed during the 5th meeting of the ABS Clearing Informal Advisory Committee (held in February 2024).

Instructions:

Please review at the attached files under each topic and provide your questions and/or comments in the appropriate forum threads below. Please provide comments before Friday 7 June 2024.

When reviewing the suggested changes you may wish to consider:

• Are the changes useful?
• Are they easy to understand?
• Is anything missing?
• What can be improved?

Topic 1:  Access, Benefit-sharing, and Compliance (ABC) keywords 

Review the “ABC” keywords list and provide your comments. Please note that when the keywords are incorporated in the submission forms or search filters,  will include the options for “select all” and “other”, as appropriate. Please note that the keywords in purple are new additions.

Topic 2: Common formats

Please review the suggested changed to the following common formats and make any comments or suggestions in the forum. Please note any changes to the keywords will be appropriated reflected in the common formats.

ABS Procedures - Allow of access or compliance procedures. Update list of ABC keyword.
ABS Measures - Updated list of ABC keyword to describe the key element of the measure.
Competent National Authority - Keywords added related to access and/or compliance responsibilities.
Checkpoint - Keywords related to stages along the value chain added.
Internationally Recognized Certificate of Compliance - Key word related to benefits added. New question on the country(s) where utilization is taking place to help inform authorities in those countries when the user information is confidential.
(new) Country Profile Information -  This format builds on the "Additional Country Profile Information format already available in the BCH by adding 3 key questions.

Topic 3: Mock-ups

Please review the 3 mock-ups and provide your feedback in the forum.