Notification 2019-012

Dear Madam/Sir, The fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing each adopted decisions on digital sequence information on genetic resources (decisions 14/20 and NP-3/12, respectively). Decision 14/20 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-20-en.pdf) established a science and policy-based process on digital sequence information on genetic resources. The process entails the submission of views and information, the commissioning and peer review of four studies, work by an ad hoc technical expert group (AHTEG), consideration of the outcomes of the AHTEG by the open-ended inter-sessional working group established under decision 14/34 to support the preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, and recommendations by the open-ended inter-sessional working group to the Conference of the Parties at its fifteenth meeting on how to address digital sequence information on genetic resources in the context of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Decision NP-3/12 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/np-mop-03/np-mop-03-dec-12-en.pdf) also requested the open-ended inter-sessional working group to submit the outcome of its deliberations for consideration by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol at its fourth meeting. The table below presents a tentative timeline for the implementation of these activities. Date Activity February 2019 Invitation for the submission of views and information pursuant to decision 14/20, paragraphs 9 and 10 (see below) May-December 2019 Studies requested in decision 14/20, paragraph 11(b)-€ (see below) June 2019 Invitation to nominate experts for the extended AHTEG 1 June 2019 Deadline for the submission of views and information September/October 2019 Peer review of the commissioned studies mentioned above February/March 2020 Meeting of the AHTEG July 2020 (tbc) Meeting of the open-ended inter-sessional working group on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework Several of these steps are subject to the availability of funds. Further details on the different activities to be carried out on digital sequence information on genetic resources will be provided in due course. Submission of views and information Pursuant to decision 14/20, paragraph 9, I am pleased to invite Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, relevant organizations and stakeholders to submit views and information: (a) To clarify the concept, including relevant terminology and scope, of digital sequence information on genetic resources and if and how domestic measures on access and benefit-sharing consider digital sequence information on genetic resources; (b) On benefit-sharing arrangements from commercial and non-commercial use of digital sequence information on genetic resources. Pursuant to decision 14/20, paragraph 10, I am also pleased to invite Parties, other Governments and indigenous peoples and local communities to submit information on their capacity-building needs regarding the access, use, generation and analysis of digital sequence information on genetic resources, in particular for the three objectives of the Convention. Kindly submit your views and relevant information as soon as possible, but no later than 1 June 2019. 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 studies The Secretariat is also advertising a call for expressions of interest from researchers or teams of researchers at https://www.cbd.int/secretariat/rfp/. 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