When did the new requirements for nucleotide and amino acid sequence disclosures in patent applications take effect?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

The new requirements for nucleotide and amino acid sequence disclosures in patent applications took effect on July 1, 2022. This is clearly stated in MPEP 2412.02(a):

“[Editor Note: This section is applicable to all applications filed on or after July 1, 2022, having disclosures of nucleotide and/or amino acid sequences as defined in 37 CFR 1.831(b).]”

These requirements apply to patent applications filed on or after this date that contain nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence disclosures. The new rules align with WIPO Standard ST.26, which replaced the previous WIPO Standard ST.25.