Legislation Tracker

Norway has not yet implemented any administrative, policy or legislative measures to incentivise users of digital sequence information (DSI) to contribute to the Cali Fund. However, the Ministry of Climate and Environment is currently exploring potential measures and engaging with relevant stakeholders to inform the development of an appropriate domestic approach.

As an initial step, the Ministry of Climate and Environment commissioned a study by Menon Economics to assess the potential implications of the Multilateral Mechanism for Norwegian businesses. Based on the findings of the study, the Government intends to engage with businesses in relevant industries to encourage appropriate contributions to the Cali Fund and explore potential administrative, policy or legislative measures to incentivise contributions.

In parallel, Norway is supporting an informal international process on DSI through meetings, webinars and knowledge products organised with the Mexican NGO Centro de Colaboración Cívica and the European Commission, aimed at building trust and strengthening cooperation ahead of CBD COP17.

5 August 2026- SBI 7 Side Event Nairobi: The side event 'Accelerating Progress on the Cali Fund Towards a Testing (Pilot) Phase and Update on Informal Work' brought together around 100 participants to discuss progress on operationalising the Cali Fund and Multilateral Mechanism. Key priorities included clarifying the MLM's scope, developing incentives for companies, strengthening IPLC access to benefits, and improving DSI database governance.

17 June 2026 – The DSI Informal Dialogue Partnership: Draft Comparative Analysis – Piloting/Testing Phases of Global Funds”: The DSI Informal Dialogue Partnership funded by Norway and the EU prepared a comparative analysis of piloting and testing approaches used by global environmental and health funds, drawing lessons relevant to the potential design of a Cali Fund pilot phase. The paper examines approaches for testing the Money IN process, Certificates, Money OUT, country allocations and IPLC access, as well as lessons on private-sector engagement and incentives.

9 July 2026- Global DSI Webinar: The DSI Informal Dialogue Partnership, with support from the European Commission and Norway, organised a global webinar bringing together more than 300 participants to discuss the implications of Decision 16/2. The discussion focused on clarifying key concepts underpinning the Cali Fund, including “publicly available,” “entities,” “indicative rates” and “direct/indirect use,” as well as the need for legal certainty and practical implementation guidance.

25 November 2025: the Ministry hosted a seminar on DSI bringing together representatives from the private sector, civil society, academia, public administration and other relevant stakeholders to discuss the implications of the Multilateral Mechanism. Norway is also engaging internationally through the Friends of the Cali Fund, working with governments and private-sector actors to support effective implementation of the Multilateral Mechanism and the Cali Fund.

12 August 2026, SBI-7 - Norway supported the EU's proposal to delete references to the Cali Fund MoU being concluded 'prior to deliberations at COP 17' (ENB).

November 2024, COP16 closing plenary - Norway supported adoption of the DSI decision and, with Switzerland, opposed India's proposed amendments (ENB).

Nature Diversity Act 2009, chapter VII on genetic material, with the Regulations on the collection and utilisation of genetic material; Marine Resources Act 2008 for marine genetic material; Patents Act origin disclosure requirement.

Norway regulates both access and use: the Nature Diversity Act (chapter VII) and its regulations govern the collection and utilisation of genetic material from Norwegian nature, the Marine Resources Act covers marine genetic material, and the Patents Act requires disclosure of origin. DSI is not expressly covered. The Ministry of Climate and Environment is assessing the mechanism's implications for Norwegian businesses, following a study by Menon Economics.