# The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (Commencement and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026

S.I. 2026/827 · made 15 July 2026

These Regulations bring into force on 9th August 2026 those provisions of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (c. 6) (“the Act”) which are not already in force.

Made under: Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (Section 32, Contents)

PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/biodiversity-beyond-national-jurisdiction-act-2026-commencement-and-transitional-provision-regulations-2026/pdf/uksi_20260827_en.pdf

## Introductory text

MARINE ENVIRONMENT
Made 15th July 2026
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 32 (2) and 32 (4) of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026.

## 1 Citation and interpretation

(1) The Regulations may be cited as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (Commencement and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026.
(2) In these Regulations, “the Act” means the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026.

## 2 Provisions coming into force on 9th August 2026

The following provisions of the Act come into force on 9th August 2026—
(a) section 2 (collection), subject to the transitional provision in regulation 3;
(b) section 3 (utilisation) and the Schedule;
(c) section 4 (onward disclosure);
(d) section 5 (repositories);
(e) section 6 (databases);
(f) section 7 (supplementary provision);
(g) section 8 (exceptions);
(h) section 13 (guidance);
(i) section 21 (screening and procedure);
(j) section 24 (screening and procedure).

## 3 Transitional provision

(1) Section 2(2)(b) of the Act does not apply in relation to the collecting of marine genetic resources during the period beginning with 9th August 2026 and ending with 8th November 2026.
(2) During the period beginning with 9th November 2026 and ending with 8th May 2027, section 2(2)(b) of the Act has effect as if for the words “at least 7 months” there were substituted—
(a) in relation to the collecting of marine genetic resources during the period beginning with 9th November 2026 and ending with 8th December 2026, the words “at least 1 month”;
(b) in relation to the collecting of marine genetic resources during the period beginning with 9th December 2026 and ending with 8th January 2027, the words “at least 2 months”;
(c) in relation to the collecting of marine genetic resources during the period beginning with 9th January 2027 and ending with 8th February 2027, the words “at least 3 months”;
(d) in relation to the collecting of marine genetic resources during the period beginning with 9th February 2027 and ending with 8th March 2027, the words “at least 4 months”;
(e) in relation to the collecting of marine genetic resources during the period beginning with 9th March 2027 and ending with 8th April 2027, the words “at least 5 months”;
(f) in relation to the collecting of marine genetic resources during the period beginning with 9th April 2027 and ending with 8th May 2027, the words “at least 6 months”.

## Signature

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
15th July 2026

## Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations bring into force on 9th August 2026 those provisions of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (c. 6) (“the Act”) which are not already in force.
Regulation 2 commences sections 2 to 8, 13, 21 and 24 of, and the Schedule to, the Act on 9th August 2026.
Regulation 3 makes transitional provision in connection with the coming into force of section 2(2)(b) of the Act in relation to the collecting of marine genetic resources during the period beginning with 9th August 2026 and ending with 8th May 2027. It modifies (from 7 months) the amount of time that must have passed between a relevant person (as defined in section 2(5) of the Act) giving the information required by section 2(2)(a) of the Act (pre-collection information) to the Secretary of State and the collection of marine genetic resources taking place. The amount of time that must have passed depends on the timing of the collection of marine genetic resources and increases by increments of a month from no minimum time period for collections taking place during the period beginning with 9th August 2026 and ending with 8th November 2026, to requiring at least 6 months to have passed for collections taking place during the period beginning with 9th April 2027 and ending with 8th May 2027.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/827 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/biodiversity-beyond-national-jurisdiction-act-2026-commencement-and-transitional-provision-regulations-2026
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.