Section 7 of the BBNJ Act sets out details on provisions that are common to Sections 5 and 6.
	Section 7 subsection (1) gives effect to Article 14(4) of the BBNJ Agreement, regarding reasonable conditions that may be placed on access to MGR of ABNJ and DSI generated on such MGR. Such reasonable conditions will be set out in guidance. Article 14(4) provides:
"Access to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction in the repositories and databases under a Party’s jurisdiction may be subject to reasonable conditions, as follows:
(a) The need to preserve the physical integrity of marine genetic resources;
(b) The reasonable costs associated with maintaining the relevant gene bank, biorepository or database in which the sample, data or information is held;
(c) The reasonable costs associated with providing access to the marine genetic resource, data or information;
(d) Other reasonable conditions in line with the objectives of this Agreement; and opportunities for such access on fair and most favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, may be provided to researchers and research institutions from developing States."
	The conditions set out in the BBNJ Agreement reflect conditions that institutions such as NOC and the NHM already implement. With respect to Article 14(4)(d), examples of other reasonable conditions within the meaning of Article 14(4) that UK institutions already implement include:
restrictions placed on access by other international agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES);
if the entire sample is to be used or destroyed as part of the scientific study process proposed in the loan agreement;
if the sample is required to be sent to another country where the sample weight, fragility and rarity or uniqueness in a collection might preclude this or where the postal, customs, or policy procedures in the country to which the sample would be sent are not sufficient to ensure access;
if access is requested by individuals who are known to have badly damaged specimens, taken them without authorisation, or failed to comply with the institutional loan requirements.
	Section 7 subsection (2) clarifies the "relevant 2-year period" for the purpose of the reports required under Sections 5 and 6. The first 2-year period will begin either from the date on which the BBNJ Agreement enters into force (subsection (2)(a)(i)) or when the BBNJ Agreement enters into force for the UK (subsection (a)(ii)) whichever is later and thereafter will be each subsequent period of 2 years (subsection 2(b)).
	Section 7 subsection (3)(a) confirms that the reports under Sections 5(2)(c) and 6(3)(c) will be due before the end of the period of 2 months beginning with the day immediately after the relevant 2-year period in question.
	Section 7 subsection (3)(b) enables the Secretary of State to provide directions varying the time specified under subsection 3(a) if it is required to comply with any timetable set by the access and benefit-sharing committee established under Article 15 of the BBNJ Agreement. This reflects the policy intention behind the requirement to provide the reports in the BBNJ Agreement, which is to support the access and benefit-sharing committee to discharge its role under Article 15 and provide advice to the Conference of the Parties.
	Section 7 subsection (4) provides that the directions referred to in subsection (3)(b) may be general or specific. This reflects the possibility that the access and benefit-sharing committee may set different timetables for reports from repositories or databases.
Part 2 – Marine Genetic Resources Section 7: Supplementary Provision