CBDDistr.
GENERAL
CBD/COP/DEC/14/20
30 November 2018
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE
CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Fourteenth meeting
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, 17-29 November 2018
Agenda item 18
DECISION ADOPTED BY THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
14/20. Digital sequence information on genetic resources
The Conference of the Parties,
Mindful of the three objectives of the Convention,
Recalling Articles 12, 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the Convention,
Mindful of the increasing generation and use of digital sequence information on genetic resources,
its publication in both public and private databases and advances in data analytics,
Noting that the term “digital sequence information” may not be the most appropriate term and that
it is used as a placeholder until an alternative term is agreed,
Recognizing the importance of new technologies for the current and future utilization of genetic
resources, and noting that the media in which information is stored and shared is continuously evolving,
Considering that the post-2020 global biodiversity framework will provide guidance on thelong-term strategic directions to the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity,
Noting the relevant discussions on digital sequence information on genetic resources and related
issues in other United Nations bodies and instruments, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the World
Health Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization and the United Nations General Assembly,
1.
Recognizes the importance of digital sequence information on genetic resources for the threeobjectives of the Convention which are mutually supportive, although further work is needed to provide
conceptual clarity on digital sequence information on genetic resources;
2.
Recognizes that access to and use of digital sequence information on genetic resources
contributes to scientific research as well as to other non-commercial and commercial activities in areas suchas biological diversity, food security and human, animal and plant health;3.
Recognizes also that further capacity to access, use, generate and analyse digital sequence
information on genetic resources is needed in many countries, and encourages Parties, other Governments
and relevant organizations to support capacity-building and technology transfer, as appropriate, to assist in
the access, use, generation and analysis of digital sequence information on genetic resources for theconservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and benefit-sharing;
4.
Notes that the generation of digital sequence information on genetic resources in most cases
requires access to a genetic resource, although in some cases linking the digital sequence information to thegenetic resource from which it was generated may be difficult;CBD/COP/DEC/14/20
Page 25.
Also notes that some Parties have adopted domestic measures that regulate the access to anduse of digital sequence information on genetic resources as part of their access and benefit-sharing
frameworks;
6.
Further notes that, as there is a divergence of views among Parties regarding benefit-sharing
from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources, Parties commit to working towards
resolving this divergence through the process established in the present decision, with the aim ofstrengthening the fulfilment of the third objective of the Convention and Article 15, paragraph 7, without
prejudice to the circumstances to which this article applies;
7.
Notes that, when genetic resources are accessed for their utilization, mutually agreed terms
can cover benefits arising from the commercial and/or non-commercial use of digital sequence informationon these genetic resources, in accordance with applicable domestic measures;
8.
Decides to establish a science- and policy-based process on digital sequence information on
genetic resources as set out in paragraphs 9 to 12 below;
9.
Invites Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, relevant
stakeholders and organizations to submit their views and information:(a)
To clarify the concept, including relevant terminology and scope, of digital sequenceinformation 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;
10.
Invites 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;
11.
Decides to establish an extended Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group, 1 including theparticipation of indigenous peoples and local communities, and requests the Executive Secretary, subject tothe availability of resources:(a)
To compile and synthesize the views and information submitted pursuant to paragraphs 9and 10 above;(b)
To commission a science-based peer-reviewed fact-finding study on the concept and scopeof digital sequence information on genetic resources and how digital sequence information on genetic
resources is currently used building on the existing fact-finding and scoping study;2(c)To commission a peer-reviewed study on ongoing developments in the field of traceabilityof digital information, including how traceability is addressed by databases, and how these could informdiscussions on digital sequence information on genetic resources;(d)
To commission a peer reviewed study on public and, to the extent possible, private databasesof digital sequence information on genetic resources, including the terms and conditions on which access isgranted or controlled, the biological scope and the size of the databases, numbers of accessions and theirorigin, governing policies, and the providers and users of the digital sequence information on genetic
resources and encourages the owners of private databases to provide the necessary information;(e)
To commission a peer-reviewed study on how domestic measures address benefit-sharing
arising from commercial and non-commercial use of digital sequence information on genetic resources and
1 The Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group will be convened in accordance with the modus operandi of the Subsidiary Body on

Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, except that there will be five experts nominated by each of the five regions.
2 Fact-Finding and Scoping Study on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources in the Context of the Convention on
Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol (CBD/DSI/AHTEG/2018/1/3).

CBD/COP/DEC/14/20
Page 3address the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources for research and development, taking
into account the submissions provided in paragraph 9;(f)

To convene a meeting of the extended Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group to:(i)

Consider the compilation and synthesis of views and information and the peer-reviewed
studies referred to above;(ii)

Develop options for operational terms and their implications to provide conceptual clarity
on digital sequence information on genetic resources, considering in particular the study
referred to in paragraph 11(b) above;(iii)

Identify key areas for capacity-building;(iv)

Submit its outcomes for consideration by a meeting of the open-ended working group
established under decision 14/34 to be held prior to the fifteenth meeting of the Conferenceof the Parties;

12.
Requests the open-ended working group established under decision 14/343 to consider theoutcomes of the extended Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group and to make recommendations to the Conferenceof 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;
13.
Requests the Executive Secretary to cooperate with other intergovernmental organizations
to inform them of the process defined above and to take into account the work, approaches and outcomesthat these organizations generate in the area in question.
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3

Decision on the preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (item 17).