The Conference of Parties, at its eighteenth session, in Doha, decided to forward the text of a draft decision  17/CP.18 on the composition, modalities and procedures of the team of technical experts under international consultations and analysis for consideration by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation at its thirty-eighth session, with a view to recommending a draft decision on this matter, for adoption by the Conference of the Parties at its nineteenth session.

The Conference of Parties, at its seventeenth session, in Durban, adopted the following modalities and guidelines:

1. UNFCCC biennial update reporting guidelines for Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention (Decision 2/CP.17, paragraphs 39-42 and annex III of decision 2/CP.17);

2. Modalities and guidelines for international consultation and analysis (Decision 2/CP.17, paragraphs 54-62 and annex IV of Decision 2/CP.17).

In Cancun, at the sixteenth session of the COP, it was decided that developing countries, consistent with their capabilities and the level of support provided for reporting, should submit biennial update reports.  It was decided that biennial update reports will be subject to international consultation and analysis under the SBI (Decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 60(c)).
It also established the process of international consultation and analysis of biennial update reports under the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to be conducted in a manner that is non-intrusive, non-punitive and respectful of national sovereignty.  The international consultation and analysis will aim to increase transparency of mitigation actions and their effects, through analysis by technical experts in consultation with the Party concerned and through a facilitative sharing of views, and will result in a summary report (Decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 63).