‘Various UN bodies are simultaneously developing rules for the benefit sharing of digital sequence information. It is extremely important for research to have global harmonisation of these rules,’ informs Dr. Amber Hartman Scholz. She is the corresponding author of an article in Nature Communications on the topic and head of the Department of Science Policy and Internationalisation at the Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures. The 16th United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) begins in Cali, Colombia, on 20 October. This conference can and should initiate the lead management for the global harmonisation of the different regulations on digital sequence information, as its negotiations are already well advanced. The Leibniz Institute DSMZ is participating in COP16 with seven researchers and several international partners to elucidate this message on site. The importance of having freely accessible digital sequence information globally has been demonstrated in the fight against COVID. International cooperation and the sharing of the virus´ genetic sequence information were prerequisites for the rapid development of diagnostic procedures and vaccines.
Research must be fair and unrestricted
Open and free access to digital sequence information (DSI) is a basis of life science research. In their article, the authors call for the development of harmonised mechanisms for the use of DSI that are compatible with scientific practices and database structures. At the same time, these mechanisms should maximise shared use to achieve the goals of the legal frameworks. ‘International policymakers have the mandate to conduct negotiations in their area. But science knows no legal and jurisdictional boundaries. Researchers use genetic data and need open access to the large central public databases around the world. If negotiators develop new rules for use in the commercial sector with UN instruments, these rules clash with the scientific practice,’ explains Dr. Amber Hartman Scholz.
Research needs legal certainty
A harmonised multilateral system for Open DSI must have clear and simple standardised terms of use for all publicly available data. The authors of the Nature Communications publication call for international and uniform legal certainty in the interest of scientific progress. Harmonising the existing frameworks is challenging because they each serve a different purpose: conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity (CBD/NP/BBNJ), detection, prevention and eradication of diseases (PIP, WHO CA+) and food security (IPTGRFA). Each set of rules has different decision-making processes, compliance measures and designated national negotiators (often from different governmental departments) with mandates that don´t overlap or even compete for budgets and political priorities. If benefit-sharing from DSI is designed in isolation for each of these forums rather than in an interconnected global context, there is a real risk that legal uncertainty and red tape will reduce the value of the data.
Original publication:
Sett, S., Kress, W.J., Halewood, M. et al.: Harmonize rules for digital sequence information benefit-sharing across UN frameworks. Nat Commun 15, 8745 (2024), www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52994-z
Press contact:
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Mail: press(at)dsmz.de
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