Notification 2017-049

Dear Madam/Sir, Further to the timeline for the inter-sessional activities on digital sequence information on genetic resources, outlined in notification 2017-37 issued on 25 April 2017, I am pleased to invite nominations to the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources. This notification also serves as a reminder of the invitation to submit views and information on this matter. Nomination of experts In its decision XIII/16, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity established an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources. The Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group is to: (a) Consider the compilation and synthesis of views and information as well as the fact-finding and scoping study being commissioned (as referred to in paragraph 3(a) and (b) of the decision) in order to examine any potential implications of the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources for the three objectives of the Convention and the objective of the Nagoya Protocol and implementation to achieve these objectives; (b) Consider the technical scope and legal and scientific implications of existing terminology related to digital sequence information on genetic resources; (c) Identify the different types of digital sequence information on genetic resources that are relevant to the Convention and the Nagoya Protocol; (d) Meet at least once face-to-face, subject to the availability of financial resources, prior to the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties and make use of online tools to facilitate its work, as appropriate; € Submit its outcomes for consideration by a meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to be held prior to the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties. In decision NP-2/14, the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol decided that the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources would also serve the Nagoya Protocol by considering the information relevant to the Nagoya Protocol in the compilation, synthesis and study to be prepared further to paragraph 3 of decision XIII/16. A meeting of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources is tentatively scheduled to be held in Montreal, Canada, from 13 to 15 February 2018, with the generous financial support of Canada and the European Union. Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, relevant organizations and stakeholders are invited to nominate experts to the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources. Nominations should be submitted through an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary either by fax to +1 514 288 6588 or by email as a scanned attachment to: secretariat@cbd.int. Nominations should be made as soon as possible but no later than 1 September 2017. The curriculum vitae of the nominated experts/observers should also be included with the nominations submitted to the Secretariat. Based on the nominations received, the Executive Secretary, in consultation with the Bureau of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, will select the experts to take part in the meeting on the basis of their expertise and experience and the need to ensure equitable geographical distribution and gender balance. The selected experts will be announced in a subsequent notification. Reminder: submission of views and information Through notification 2017-37, Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, relevant organizations and stakeholders were invited 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, these submissions are also invited to include views and information relevant to the Nagoya Protocol. I would like to take this opportunity to remind Parties and observers that the deadline for submission of views and information is 8 September 2017. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

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