South Africa acceded to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on August 14, 2003.

The South African Biosafety Clearing House (SABCH) has been established as per Article 20 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, in order to facilitate the exchange of scientific, technical, environmental and legal information on living modified organisms (LMOs). inter alia;

The Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) is an information exchange mechanism established to assist Parties to implement its provisions and to facilitate sharing of information on, and experience with, LMOs.