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Decision COP XIII/17
CBD/COP/DEC/XIII/17

Synthetic biology

The Conference of the Parties,

Informational
1.Reaffirms decision XII/24, in which it urged Parties and invited other Governments to take a precautionary approach, in accordance with decision XI/11, paragraph 4;
Informational
2.Reiterates paragraph 3 of decision XII/24 and notes that it can also apply to some living modified organisms containing gene drives;
Informational
3.Commends the work of the online forum and the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology, and welcomes the conclusions and recommendations of the report of the Group as a basis for further discussion;
Informational
4.Acknowledges that the outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology on the operational definition is “synthetic biology is a further development and new dimension of modern biotechnology that combines science, technology and engineering to facilitate and accelerate the understanding, design, redesign, manufacture and/or modification of genetic materials, living organisms and biological systems”, and considers it useful as a starting point for the purpose of facilitating scientific and technical deliberations under the Convention and its Protocols;
Informational
5.Takes note of the conclusion of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology that living organisms developed through current applications of synthetic biology, or that are currently in the early stages of research and development, are similar to living modified organisms as defined in the Cartagena Protocol;
Informational
6.Notes that the general principles and methodologies for risk assessment under the Cartagena Protocol and existing biosafety frameworks provide a good basis for risk assessment regarding living organisms developed through current applications of synthetic biology, or that are currently in the early stages of research and development, but such methodologies may need to be updated and adapted for current and future developments and applications of synthetic biology;
Informational
7.Also notes that it is not clear, given the current state of knowledge, whether or not some organisms of synthetic biology, which are currently in the early stages of research and development, would fall under the definition of living modified organisms under the Cartagena Protocol, and further notes that there are cases in which there may be no consensus on whether the result of a synthetic biology application is “living” or not;
Operational Active Parties
8.Invites Parties, in accordance with their applicable domestic legislation or national circumstances, to take into account, as appropriate, socio-economic, cultural and ethical considerations when identifying the potential benefits and potential adverse effects of organisms, components and products resulting from synthetic biology techniques in the context of the three objectives of the Convention;
Operational Active Other Government(s) Parties Relevant organizations
9.Encourages Parties and invites other Governments and relevant organizations, in the context of the three objectives of the Convention and taking into account, if appropriate and in accordance with domestic legislation or national circumstances, socio-economic, cultural and ethical considerations:
(a)To conduct research on the benefits and adverse effects of organisms, components and products of synthetic biology on biodiversity, with a view to filling knowledge gaps and identifying how those effects relate to the objectives of the Convention and its Protocols;
(b)To promote and enable public and multi-stakeholder dialogues and awareness-raising activities on the potential benefits and potential adverse effects of organisms, components and products of synthetic biology on biodiversity, involving all relevant stakeholders and with the full and effective engagement of indigenous peoples and local communities;
(c)To cooperate in the development of guidance and capacity-building activities with a view to assessing the potential benefits and potential adverse effects of organisms, components and products of synthetic biology and, if necessary, updating and adapting current methodologies for risk assessment of living modified organisms to organisms resulting from synthetic biology, as appropriate;
Operational Implemented Parties Other Government(s) Relevant organizations IPLC

10. Invites Parties, other Governments, relevant organizations and indigenous peoples and local communities to submit to the Executive Secretary information and supporting documentation on:

(a) Research, cooperation and activities noted in paragraph 9 above;

(b) Evidence of benefits and adverse effects of synthetic biology vis-à-vis the three objectives of the Convention;

(c) Experiences in conducting risk assessments of organisms, components and products of synthetic biology, including any challenges encountered, lessons learned and implications for risk assessment frameworks;

(d) Examples of risk management and other measures that have been put in place to avoid or minimize the potential adverse effects of organisms, components and products of synthetic biology, including experiences of safe use and best practices for the safe handling of organisms developed through synthetic biology;

(e) Regulations, policies and guidelines in place or under development which are directly relevant to synthetic biology;

(f) Knowledge, experience and perspectives of indigenous peoples and local communities in the context of living in harmony with nature for comparison and better understanding of the potential benefits and adverse effects of synthetic biology;

11. Decides to extend the mandate of the current Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology in accordance with the terms of reference annexed hereto and also to contribute to the completion of the assessment as requested in paragraph 2 of decision XII/24;

12. Also decides to extend the open-ended online forum to support the work of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology, and invites Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities and relevant organizations to continue nominating experts to take part in the openended online forum;

13. Requests the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to review the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology and make further recommendation to the Conference of the Parties, including on the analysis using the criteria set out in paragraph 12 of decision IX/29;

14. Requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources:

(a) To continue to facilitate moderated discussions under the open-ended online forum on synthetic biology through the Biosafety Clearing-House, and to continue to invite Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities and relevant organizations to nominate experts to take part in the forum;

(b) To make the information received through paragraph 10 above available online;

(c) To compile and synthesize the results of the work referred to in the paragraphs above and make them available for further discussion through the online forum and the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group;

(d) To convene moderated online discussions under the open-ended online forum and, subject to the availability of funds, a face-to-face meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology with the terms of reference annexed to the present decision, and submit the report of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group to peer review by Parties for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at a meeting held prior to the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties;

(e) To cooperate and establish synergies with other United Nations and international organizations whose mandates are relevant to synthetic biology;

(f) To promote the full and effective engagement of indigenous peoples and local communities in future activities relating to synthetic biology under the Convention;

(g) To facilitate, in collaboration with relevant research institutions and organizations, capacity-building and support to developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, small island developing States and countries with economies in transition, on undertaking the activities outlined in paragraph 9 above;

15. Welcomes the recommendation of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, in its decision BS-VII/12, on a coordinated approach on the issue of synthetic biology, taking into account that the provisions of the Protocol may also apply to living organisms resulting from synthetic biology, and invites the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to take into account in its future deliberations relevant information resulting from the processes under the Convention.

Body
Conference of the Parties (COP)

Meeting
COP-13
Thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
4 - 17 December, 2016
Cancun, Mexico

Documents
CBD/SYNBIO/AHTEG/2017/1/2
Overview of work done in response to decision XIII/17 and background information to facilitate deliberations by the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group On Synthetic Biology
CBD/SYNBIO/AHTEG/2017/1/INF/1
Background documents provided to facilitate deliberations by the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology
CBD/SYNBIO/AHTEG/2017/1/INF/2
Knowledge, experience and perspectives of indigenous peoples and local communities
UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/20/INF/12
Report of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology
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