On Friday, 13 February 2026, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) delivered the following statement during the afternoon session with Relevant Stakeholders, which took place at WHO headquarters from 17:00 CET.
If benefit sharing is implemented through contracts, user registration is essential, as modeled by the European Health Data Space Regulation, where access requires prior registration and acceptance of binding terms. See KEI Briefing Note 2026-1.
Alternatively, if negotiators prioritize the frictionless flow of digital sequence information (DSI) without contractual barriers, then Parties must assume direct responsibility for enforcement—mirroring the BBNJ Agreement approach. This shift toward state-led compliance can be achieved through the Annex, without necessitating changes in Article 12 of the Agreement.
Finally, KEI reiterates our concern over the secrecy of the negotiations, which needlessly undermines the trust in this institution.