Synthetic biology : Potential impacts of synthetic biology on biological diversity

FOREWORD One of the functions of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to the Convention on Biological Diversity is to identify new and emerging issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. [...] To streamline the work of the Subsidiary Body, the Conference of the Parties, in decision IX/29, provided guidance on the procedure for the identification of new and emerging issues and on the review of proposals. [...] In addition, questions of the adequacy of existing regulations to deal with current and anticipated components, organisms and products of synthetic biology as well as the social and ethical implications of synthetic biology are being raised. [...] Following the consideration of information on synthetic biology by the SBSTTA at its sixteenth meeting, the Conference of the Parties, in decision XI/11, requested the Executive Secretary to, inter alia, invite additional information on the subject, to compile and synthesize this information and to consider possible gaps and overlaps with the applicable provisions of the Convention, its Protocols [...] On the basis of the comments made at the eighteenth meeting of the SBSTTA and additional comments provided through a peer-review process that took place in July and August 2014, the documents were substantially revised and issued as information documents for consideration by the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (UNEP/CBD/COP/12/INF/11 and 1