COP 14 and COP-MOP 3 (November 2018)
The issue of digital sequence information on genetic resources was considered by the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP 14) and by the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol (COP-MOP 3) and each adopted a decision: COP decision
14/20 and COP-MOP decision
NP-3/12.
In decision
14/20, Parties recognized the importance of digital sequence information on genetic resources for the three objectives of the Convention which are mutually supportive, although further work is needed to provide conceptual clarity on digital sequence information on genetic resources. Parties also recognized that access to and use of digital sequence information on genetic resources contributes to scientific research as well as to other non-commercial and commercial activities in areas such as biological diversity, food security and human, animal and plant health.
Parties recognized also that further capacity to access, use, generate and analyse digital sequence information on genetic resources is needed in many countries, and encouraged Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to support capacity-building and technology transfer, as appropriate, to assist in the access, use, generation and analysis of digital sequence information on genetic resources for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and benefit-sharing.
The Conference of the Parties also noted that, as there is a divergence of views among Parties regarding benefit-sharing from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources, Parties commit to work towards resolving this divergence through the process established in the decision, with the aim of strengthening the fulfillment of the third objective of the Convention and Article 15, paragraph 7, without prejudice to the circumstances to which this article applies.
In this regard, the decision established a science and policy-based process on digital sequence information on genetic resources for further work on this topic in the 2019-2020 intersessional period. The process entails the submission of views and information, the commissioning and peer review of four studies as well as work by an ad hoc technical expert group (AHTEG).
The outcomes of the AHTEG will be considered by the open-ended inter-sessional working group established under decision
14/34 to support the preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Recommendations by the open-ended inter-sessional working group on how to address digital sequence information on genetic resources in the context of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework will be considered by Conference of the Parties at its fifteenth meeting. Decision
NP-3/12 also requested the open-ended inter-sessional working group to submit the outcome of its deliberations for consideration by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol at its fourth meeting.
COP 14 and COP-MOP 3 Decisions and Relevant Documents
- Digital sequence information on genetic resources - CBD/SBSTTA/22/2
- Report of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources - CBD/SBSTTA/22/INF/4
- Fact-finding and scoping study on digital sequence information on genetic resources in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol - CBD/DSI/AHTEG/2018/1/3
- Synthesis of views and information on the potential implications of the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources for the three objectives of the Convention and the objective of the Nagoya Protocol - CBD/DSI/AHTEG/2018/1/2
- Case studies and examples of the use of digital sequence information in relation to the objectives of the Convention and the Nagoya Protocol - CBD/DSI/AHTEG/2018/1/2/ADD1
- Digital sequence information on genetic resources in relevant ongoing international processes and policy debate - CBD/DSI/AHTEG/2018/1/2/ADD2
- Submission from the Secretariat of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: exploratory fact-finding scoping study on "digital sequence information" on genetic resources for food and agriculture - CBD/COP/14/INF/29
Meeting of the AHTEG (February 2018)
The meeting of the
Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Digital Sequence Information (DSI) on Genetic Resources was held from 13 to 16 February 2018 in Montreal, Canada. The meeting was convened thanks to the financial support of the Government of Canada and the European Union. The AHTEG considered the
synthesis of views and information submitted by Parties, other Governments, relevant organizations and stakeholders, as well as a
fact-finding and scoping study commissioned by the Executive Secretary. The Expert Group discussed the terminology and different types of DSI on genetic resources as well as any potential implications of the use of DSI on genetic resources for the three objectives of the Convention and the objective of the Nagoya Protocol. Among other things, the experts agreed that more discussion on the terminology associated with this issue is required to find the balance between terminology that is adaptive and dynamic enough to accommodate scientific, technological, market and other change, and at the same time is clear and solid enough to provide legal certainty. The experts also agreed on the importance of "DSI" for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity while emphasizing that the three objectives of the Convention are interlinked and mutually supportive. The
report will be considered by
SBSTTA-22.
Information on the process undertaken in the intersessional period 2017-2018
Detailed information on the process on digital sequence information on genetic resources established in decisions XIII/16 and NP-2/14 during the 2017-2018 inter-sessional period is available
here. The process entailed the submission of views and information, the commissioning and peer review of a fact-finding and scoping study as well as work by an ad hoc technical expert group (AHTEG).
