Decision COP XIII/17

The Conference of the Parties,

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;

2. Reiterates paragraph 3 of decision XII/24 and notes that it can also apply to some living modified organisms containing gene drives;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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:

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

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:

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.