Decision COP 15/9

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling that the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol and other access and benefit-sharing instruments provide the legal framework for access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their utilization, 

Recalling also decision 14/20,

Noting the outcomes of the science- and policy-based process on digital sequence information on genetic resources established in decision 14/20,

Noting also the Informal Co-Chairs’ Advisory Group on digital sequence information on genetic resources established by the Co-Chairs of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the Executive Secretary, and the work on digital sequence information on genetic resources undertaken by the Advisory Group, including consideration of policy options,

Noting further the work of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, and the information in the note by the Executive Secretary on digital sequence information on genetic resources,

Recognizing that there are divergent views on digital sequence information on genetic resources with regard to its scope under the Convention on Biological Diversity,

Recognizing also that digital sequence information on genetic resources is under consideration in other United Nations bodies and instruments,

Recognizing further that any solution for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources should be mutually supportive of and adaptable to other instruments and fora while recognizing that other fora may develop specialized approaches,

Acknowledging that the generation of, access to, and use of digital sequence information on genetic resources together with the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from its use would support research and innovation and contribute to achieving the three objectives of the Convention and sustainable development,

Emphasizing the importance of capacity-building and development, technology transfer and technical and scientific cooperation to support generation of, access to, and use of digital sequence information on genetic resources,

Recognizing the importance of digital sequence information on genetic resources for the KunmingMontreal Global Biodiversity Framework,

Recognizing also that a solution for benefit-sharing from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources is also a wide-ranging solution for the mobilization of resources to support the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity,

Recognizing further the value of depositing data in public databases,

Welcoming the efforts of databases, including the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration, to encourage the tagging of records with information on geographical origin,

Acknowledging the FAIR and CARE principles, the framework for data governance provided by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development “Recommendation on Enhancing Access to and Sharing of Data”, and the recommendations set out in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization “Recommendation on Open Science”,

Recognizing that a solution on benefit-sharing from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources may include innovative revenue generation measures,

Noting that the differences between public and private databases should be considered in the development of a solution on benefit-sharing from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources,

Recognizing the different understandings of the concept and scope of digital sequence information on genetic resources, and the range of views regarding the need to define such concept and scope,

1. Agrees on the continuing use of the term “digital sequence information” for further discussions;

2. Also agrees that the benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources should be shared fairly and equitably;

3. Considers that the distribution of digital sequence information on genetic resources and distinctive practices in its use require a distinctive solution for benefit-sharing;

4. Encourages the depositing of more digital sequence information on genetic resources, with appropriate information on geographical origin and other relevant metadata, in public databases;

5. Recognizes that tracking and tracing of all digital sequence information on genetic resources is not practical;

6. Also recognizes that a multilateral approach on the sharing of the benefits arising from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources has the potential to meet the criteria identified in paragraph 9 of the present decision;

8. Agrees to develop a solution for the sharing of benefits arising from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources;

9. Also agrees that a solution for fair and equitable benefit-sharing on digital sequence information on genetic resources should, inter alia:

10. Recognizes that the monetary and non-monetary benefits arising from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources should, in particular, be used to support conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and, inter alia, benefit indigenous peoples and local communities;

11. Agrees that the approach to fair and equitable benefit-sharing from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources set out in the present decision does not affect existing rights and obligations under the Convention and the Nagoya Protocol, including, as applicable, those related to traditional knowledge and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, and is without prejudice to national access and benefit-sharing measures;

12. Welcomes section I of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the long-term strategic framework for capacity-building and development, and the strengthening of technical and scientific cooperation in support of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework;

13. Calls for specific and targeted capacity-building and development, technology transfer, according to Article 16, and technical and scientific cooperation, according to Article 18 and, as appropriate, support for developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small islands developing States among them, and Parties with economies in transition, to generate, access and use digital sequence information on genetic resources for research and innovation, taking into account the key areas for potential capacity-building and modalities for capacity-building activities as identified by the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources;

14. Encourages Parties to support the capacity needs and priorities, as appropriate, of indigenous peoples and local communities and relevant stakeholders, as identified by them, emphasizing the capacity needs and priorities of women;

15. Recalls the proposed policy options for a solution on benefit-sharing from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources as contained in the annex to recommendation 5/2 of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework;

16. Decides to establish, as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a multilateral mechanism for benefit-sharing from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources, including a global fund;

17. Also decides to establish a fair, transparent, inclusive, participatory and time-bound process to further develop and operationalize the mechanism, as outlined in paragraphs 18 and 20 to 22 below, to be finalized at the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties;

18. Establishes an ad hoc open-ended working group on benefit-sharing from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources to undertake further development of the multilateral mechanism, including the elements identified in the annex, and to make recommendations to the Conference of the Parties at its sixteenth meeting;

19. Decides to review the effectiveness of the multilateral mechanism at the eighteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, including, inter alia, the criteria laid out in paragraphs 9 and 10 of the present decision;

20. Invites Parties, other Governments, indigenous people and local communities and relevant organizations to submit views on the issues set out in the annex to the present decision;

21. Requests the Executive Secretary to compile and synthesize the views submitted pursuant to paragraph 20 above and make them available to the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Benefit-sharing from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources;

22. Also requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources, to: