Notification 2017-037

Dear Madam/Sir, The thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing respectively adopted decisions on digital sequence information on genetic resources in which they recognized the need for a coordinated and non-duplicative approach on this matter under the Convention and the Nagoya Protocol (decisions XIII/16 and NP-2/14, respectively). They decided to consider at the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties and the third meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol any potential implications of the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources for the three objectives of the Convention, and for the objective of the Nagoya Protocol, respectively. The Parties also agreed to a process to facilitate consideration of this matter. I would like to share information on the timeline the Secretariat foresees for undertaking this process, invite the submission of views and information pursuant to these decisions and draw your attention to the call for expressions of interest for the fact-finding and scoping study. Timeline for inter-sessional activities on digital sequence information on genetic resources The process agreed to in decisions XIII/16 and NP-2/14 entails the submission of views and information, the commissioning of a study, work by an ad hoc technical expert group, consideration of the outcomes by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, and recommendations by the Subsidiary Body to the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention and the third meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol. The table below presents a tentative timeline for the implementation of these activities. ----table starts here----- Submission of views and information Pursuant to decision XIII/16, paragraph 2, I am pleased to invite Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, and relevant organizations and stakeholders to submit views and relevant information on any potential implications of the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources for the three objectives of the Convention. Pursuant to decision NP-2/14, paragraph 2, I also invite these submissions to include information relevant to the Nagoya Protocol. Kindly submit your views and relevant information as soon as possible, but no later than 8 September 2017. Please note that submissions should be sent through an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary by e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int. Call for expressions of interest for the fact-finding and scoping study The Secretariat is also advertising a call for expressions of interest from researchers or teams of researchers interested in undertaking the fact-finding and scoping study requested by decision XIII/16. More information is available at: https://www.cbd.int/doc/vacancies/2017/proposals/Call-DSI-2017-04-24-en.pdf Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources A meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources is tentatively planned for 13-15 February 2018. A notification inviting the nomination of experts will be issued in June 2017. I thank you for your cooperation and continued support to the Convention and its Nagoya Protocol. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: ABS National Focal Points and CBD National Focal Points, Relevant International Organizations and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities