BBNJ: Report information for a digital sequence information utilisation project
Find out what information must be provided when a utilisation project uses digital sequence information (DSI) on marine genetic resources (MGR) of areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Before you start
You should first check whether your activity counts as utilisation:
You may also find it useful to read:
Check when this guidance applies
This guidance applies where a utilisation project in the UK uses DSI on MGR of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected after 9 August 2026.
Information on a utilisation project using DSI only needs to be provided by the relevant person if it is reasonably practicable to do so.
Understand what “reasonably practicable” means
The purpose of the term “reasonably practicable” is to avoid requiring people using DSI having to spend significant effort, time and/or expense establishing whether they have used DSI on MGR of areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Research, development and commercialisation involving DSI can be non-linear.
Several research threads may be pursued in parallel. The intended objective of the research may also change between the start and end of the process.
In cases such as large-scale screening against a database of millions of sequences, it may not be practicable for the researcher to identify and geolocate each sequence that their research has queried.
What is considered reasonably practicable may develop over time with technological developments.
Report information when there is a result but no commercialisation
If a utilisation project using DSI leads to any of the results set out in Article 12(8)(a) of the BBNJ Agreement but does not involve commercialisation, the relevant person must provide information if it is reasonably practicable to do so.
The results set out in Article 12(8)(a) of the BBNJ Agreement are:
- a publication
- a patent being granted
- a product being developed
The relevant person should complete the appropriate utilisation information form.
The form asks for the following information:
- where available, the BBNJ standardised batch identifier
- where available, details of the post-collection notification related to the DSI that was utilised
- where the results of the utilisation can be found
- where the original sample on which the DSI that is the subject of utilisation was generated is held
- the modalities envisaged for access to the DSI being utilised, and a data management plan for the same
BBNJ: Complete a digital sequence information utilisation form (no commercialisation)
If information is difficult to obtain
The information does not need to be provided if the relevant person does not have, and could not with reasonable effort obtain, the information.
Example
MGR of areas beyond national jurisdiction may have been collected and held by individuals or institutions in countries that are not parties to the BBNJ Agreement.
DSI on those MGR may be recorded on databases and later accessed and utilised by individuals or organisations in the UK.
Even if it is otherwise reasonably practicable to provide information on that utilisation project, it will not be possible for the relevant person to provide a BBNJ standardised batch identifier or details of a post-collection notification.
In the absence of a post-collection notification form, the relevant person is unlikely to be able to provide information on where the original sample is held.
Information about patents
The utilisation information form contains a general link to the UK Patent Office website.
No further information on patents registered in the UK needs to be provided.
Provide a data management plan
The data management plan should set out details of how the DSI can be accessed.
The data management plan should include details of:
- where the DSI is recorded
- how the DSI can be accessed
This information can be provided using links to online information about the publicly accessible database chosen.
The relevant person can upload a document containing the full data management plan when submitting utilisation information.
Submit information to the UK BBNJ Focal Point
The information form should be sent by the relevant person within one month beginning on the first day that the result is achieved.
In a large research and development project, there may be several points at which results are achieved.
Each time an element of the research meets the requirements of a utilisation project and achieves a result, information on that utilisation project will need to be provided to the UK BBNJ Focal Point.
The UK BBNJ Focal Point will submit the information form to the BBNJ Clearing-House Mechanism.
BBNJ: Complete a digital sequence information utilisation form (no commercialisation)
What if the information to be provided is protected from disclosure?
The UK BBNJ Focal Point will not send information to the BBNJ Clearing-House Mechanism if that information is:
- protected from disclosure under the National Security Act 2023
- protected from disclosure under UK law, in the opinion of the Secretary of State
If the relevant person in respect of a utilisation project believes that the information required on a utilisation form may be protected from disclosure, they should contact the UK BBNJ Focal Point as early as possible.
Further information:
Ask for more time
The UK BBNJ Focal Point has discretion to extend the period within which the relevant person has to provide information on the utilisation project.
Any extension must be agreed in writing with the UK BBNJ Focal Point.
If the relevant person considers that an extension of time will be required, they should contact the UK BBNJ Focal Point and explain the reason for the request.
Record digital sequence information in a suitable database
In addition to providing the utilisation information form, the relevant person must ensure that DSI on MGR that was utilised is recorded in a suitable database.
Databases are suitable if they are:
- publicly accessible
- operated, in any part of the world, in accordance with current international practice
The requirement to record DSI in a publicly accessible database reflects the BBNJ Agreement’s approach to non-monetary benefit sharing.
The suitable database where DSI is recorded does not need to be in the UK.
Work undertaken by a person in the UK may be part of a broader international scientific programme where databases outside the UK are used to record DSI.
Further guidance:
Make digital sequence information publicly accessible
The requirement to record DSI in a publicly accessible database does not prevent a company or institution from maintaining an internal, private database.
It means that any DSI on MGR of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected after 9 August 2026 must also be recorded in a publicly accessible database.
Report information when there is commercialisation
When the utilisation project results in commercialisation, the relevant person must provide information on the appropriate form if it is reasonably practicable to do so.
The form asks for the following information:
- where available, the BBNJ standardised batch identifier
- where available, details of the post-collection notification related to the DSI that was utilised
- where the original sample on which the DSI that is the subject of utilisation was generated is held
- where the results of the utilisation can be found
- the modalities envisaged for access to the DSI being utilised, and a data management plan for the same
- once marketed, information, if available, on sales of relevant products and any further development
Complete a digital sequence information utilisation form (commercialisation)
Understand what “any further development” means
The requirement to provide information on any further development is related to the requirement to provide information on sales, if available.
An example of a further development would be the withdrawal of the product from the market.
For further guidance on completing the form, please refer to the guidance on the information that needs to be provided when there is no commercialisation.
Submit commercialisation information
Commercialisation information must be provided by the relevant person within one month beginning with the day on which the product is made available.
This information must also be provided once a year for every year or part of a year that the product is available.
The UK BBNJ Focal Point will submit the information form to the BBNJ Clearing-House Mechanism.
Complete a digital sequence information utilisation form (commercialisation)