SisGen Updates: Version 3.0 and Taxonomic Reporting

In brief

New resolutions from the Genetic Heritage Management Council (CGen) were published on September 28, 2026, namely: (a) CGen Resolution No. 53/2026, which approves SisGen 3.0, the new version of the system used to comply with national legislation on access to genetic heritage and benefit-sharing. The platform will be available for user familiarization for 60 days starting October 1, 2026. The deadlines associated with the new features will begin with a subsequent act by the CGen Executive Secretariat, following the familiarization period, data migration, and technical adjustments; and (b) CGen Resolution No. 54/2026, which updates alternative methods for filling out taxonomic fields in SisGen.

Recommended actions

1. Follow the official timeline: monitor the notice from the CGen Executive Secretariat that will announce the availability of SisGen 3.0 and mark the start of the deadlines related to the new features.
2. Use the familiarization phase: familiarize the responsible teams with the features released as of October 1, 2026.
3. Verify taxonomic data: assess whether data entry procedures comply with the categories set forth in CGen Resolution No. 54/2026.

More details

• Approval of SisGen 3.0

CGen Resolution No. 53/2026 approved the software corresponding to SisGen 3.0, which includes features necessary for compliance with national legislation on access and benefit-sharing.

With the approval of SisGen 3.0, the system now includes advancements for the implementation of legislation on genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. Among the main new features is the creation of the international module, which will allow for the registration of foreign institutions in the system, including through a partnership agreement with a Brazilian institution—a feature previously unavailable on the platform.

This feature aims to eliminate a long-standing limitation of SisGen related to the registration of activities carried out by foreign institutions involving Brazilian genetic resources.

In addition, SisGen 3.0 will feature:

1. a reduction in free-text fields and the adoption of standardized lists
2. incorporation of regulatory updates issued after the release of the system’s original version
3. simplified forms for certain scientific research activities without economic purposes
4. initial availability of the international module in English

The implementation of SisGen 3.0 will take place in successive stages, including system approval, data migration from the current platform, and, subsequently, the publication of the official act formalizing its official launch.

A 60-day familiarization period is scheduled to begin on October 1, 2026, during which users will be able to access the platform to familiarize themselves with it and conduct operational tests. During this phase, the data entered will be for demonstration purposes only and will not be incorporated into the final database.

SisGen 3.0 will become officially available only after the end of the familiarization period, the completion of the data migration, and the implementation of the necessary technical adjustments. The publication of the corresponding regulatory act will mark the start of the deadlines related to the system’s new features. Until that time, the current version of SisGen will remain operational, and after the new platform goes live, it will be maintained solely as a repository for consulting and preserving previously recorded information.

• Taxonomic fields

CGen Resolution No. 54/2026 provides for alternative ways of entering data into SisGen and now includes: (i) kingdom for algae, fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms, except viruses; (ii) order, for animals; and (iii) family, for viruses and plants.

• Future implications

1. Start of new regulatory deadlines: the publication of the CGen Executive Secretariat’s act formalizing the release of SisGen 3.0 will mark the start of the deadlines related to the new features incorporated into the system.
2. Preparing for the transition: Companies and institutions engaged in activities involving genetic resources or associated traditional knowledge can use the transition period to review existing records, organize internal responsibilities, and assess potential operational impacts resulting from the migration to the new platform.
3. Greater standardization of information: The changes introduced by CGen Resolution No. 54/2026 point to a trend toward improving the consistency and standardization of data recorded in SisGen, particularly with regard to taxonomic fields.
4. Timeline still to be determined: Although SisGen 3.0 has been approved by CGen, its official launch remains contingent upon the completion of the data migration and technical adjustments provided for in the regulations, with no definitive date set as of yet.
5. Facilitation of international activities: the implementation of the foreign module is expected to reduce operational barriers for institutions based abroad and facilitate international research and development projects involving Brazilian genetic resources—an area that has historically posed operational challenges within SisGen.