# The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (Meaning of “Digital Sequence Information”) Regulations 2026

S.I. 2026/521 · made 14 May 2026

These Regulations establish the meaning of “digital sequence information”, in relation to marine genetic resources, under section 27 (1) of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (c. 6) (“the 2026 Act”).

Made under: Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (Section 27, Contents)

PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/biodiversity-beyond-national-jurisdiction-act-2026-meaning-of-digital-sequence-information-regulations-2026/pdf/uksi_20260521_en.pdf; UK Explanatory Memorandum https://openlegislation.uk/biodiversity-beyond-national-jurisdiction-act-2026-meaning-of-digital-sequence-information-regulations-2026/pdf/uksiem_20260521_en_001.pdf

## Introductory text

MARINE ENVIRONMENT
Made 14th May 2026
Laid before Parliament 15th May 2026
Coming into force 10th July 2026
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the power conferred by section 27 (1) of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026.

## 1 Citation, commencement and extent

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (Meaning of “Digital Sequence Information”) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 10th July 2026.
(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

## 2 Meaning of “digital sequence information”

For the purposes of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026, “digital sequence information” in relation to marine genetic resources means DNA or ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequences in digital form.

## Signature

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
14th May 2026

## Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations establish the meaning of “digital sequence information”, in relation to marine genetic resources, under section 27 (1) of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (c. 6) (“the 2026 Act”).
Section 27 (1) of the 2026 Act provides that “digital sequence information”, in relation to marine genetic resources, has such meaning as the Secretary of State may provide in regulations.
The Regulations make provision in connection with the implementation by the United Kingdom of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument, as no, or no significant, impact on the private, public or voluntary sectors is foreseen. Publication of a full impact assessment is not necessary for such legislation, but the impact assessment prepared for the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill is relevant:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/59-01/0302/MGRmeasuresimpactassessment.pdf.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/521 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/biodiversity-beyond-national-jurisdiction-act-2026-meaning-of-digital-sequence-information-regulations-2026
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.