CBD Negotiating Group Issues Draft Decision On Genetic Resources Data

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt — The co-chairs of a contact group working to find consensus language on a decision on genetic resources data issued a new draft this afternoon at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity meetings in Egypt.

The “non-paper” [pdf] still contains several alternatives and bracketed text (indicating disagreement) to be further discussed at the next meeting of the contact group this evening.

The draft decision essentially asks a technical expert group to make a recommendation for the consideration of the next conference of the parties of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, after considering several studies.

At issue is how to deal with digital sequence information (DSI) of genetic resources in the Nagoya Protocol. The draft decision notes the increasing generation and use of DSI and its publication in both public and private databases, and adds that the term digital sequence information may not be the most appropriate term. It is used as a “placeholder” until an alternative term is agreed, it says.

The draft decision calls for the establishment of an extended Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group including the participation of indigenous peoples and local communities. Several studies are expected to be conducted, according to the non-paper, including a fact-finding study on the concept of DSI on genetic resources; a study on ongoing developments in the field of traceability; and a study on public and private databases of DSI on genetic resources, including the terms and conditions on which access is granted or controlled, the biological scope and the size of the databases.

Image Credits: Catherine Saez