In the past two COPs, Parties have committed to pursuing a careful governance for Synthetic Biology: establishing a ‘broad and regular’ process for the horizon scanning, assessment and monitoring of new developments in Synthetic Biology supported by a Multidisciplinary Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group. This carefully designed process is critical to identifying key priority topics for the CBD to address on a precautionary basis.
At COP16, Parties should reaffirm this process and agree on the next steps in the CBD’s
Synthetic Biology program. We are asking Parties to:
1 – Ensure Multidisciplinary Knowledge in Assessment and Monitoring Synthetic Biology. The multidisciplinary nature of the mAHTEG should be affirmed, extending its mandate and authorizing it to analyze these developments to guide careful, informed and thoughtful policy decisions.
2 – Exercise precaution: Horizon scanning, assessment and monitoring. The currently bracketed annexed text directs the mAHETG to undertake a deeper assessment of three priority topics: Integration with Artificial Intelligence, self-spreading vaccines and gene drives.
3 – Ensure any proposed “Synthetic Biology Action Plan”is aligned with existing decisions to support precaution, regulation, horizon scanning, assessment and monitoring of synthetic biology. This “Action Plan” is currently biased towards industrial and technical development of the field of synthetic biology.
4 – Ensure the proposed risk assessment guidance materials on engineered gene drives undergo an independent review. There should also be guidance on ‘LM fish and other potential LM aquatic organisms’ and consideration of further guidance for LM self-limiting insect systems.