Decision COP 15/31

1. Recognizes the various challenges experienced by the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology in performing analysis on the relationship between synthetic biology and the criteria for new and emerging issues;

2. Also recognizes that decisions X/13, XI/11, XII/24, XIII/17 and 14/19 mandated work on synthetic biology under the Convention, and that the results of the application of the criteria as set out in decision IX/29 to the issue of synthetic biology have been inconclusive in determining whether synthetic biology is a new and emerging issue or not and decides not to require further analysis on whether synthetic biology is a new and emerging issue;

3. Notes that this should not be seen as setting a precedent regarding synthetic biology as a permanent item under the Convention, nor on the permanent adoption of procedures established in this decision, such as horizon scanning, nor on future processes to consider any proposed new and emerging issues;

4. Establishes a process for broad and regular horizon scanning, monitoring and assessment of the most recent technological developments in synthetic biology as set out in section A of the annex to the present decision and agrees to start its work for one intersessional period;

5. Establishes a multidisciplinary ad hoc technical expert group on synthetic biology to support the process for broad and regular horizon scanning, monitoring and assessment, in accordance with the terms of reference contained in section B of the annex;

6. Decides that the trends in new technological developments in synthetic biology identified by the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology and by the multidisciplinary Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology to Support the Process for Broad and Regular Horizon Scanning, Monitoring and Assessment, will inform the horizon scanning, monitoring and assessment of the following intersessional period;

7. Invites Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, and relevant organizations to submit to the Executive Secretary information relevant to the trends referred to in paragraph 6 above to inform the horizon scanning, monitoring and assessment;

8. Calls upon Parties and other stakeholders to facilitate broad international cooperation, technology transfer, knowledge-sharing, including through the Biosafety Clearing-House, for products of synthetic biology that are considered to be living modified organisms, and capacity-building on synthetic biology, taking into account the needs of Parties and of indigenous peoples and local communities;

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

10. Requests the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to consider the outcomes of the horizon scanning process contained in the report of the multidisciplinary Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group, and to make recommendations for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its sixteenth meeting and, as appropriate, by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol at its eleventh meeting and by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol at its fifth meeting;

11. Also requests the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to consider the report on effectiveness of the horizon scanning process established in paragraph 4 above, at its meeting prior to the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, and to make a recommendation on the need to extend that process;

12. Requests the Executive Secretary to continue pursuing cooperation with other regional and international organizations, conventions and initiatives, including academic and research institutions, on issues related to synthetic biology.