Nagoyaprotokollen

Nagoyaprotokollen, commonly referred to as the Nagoya Protocol, is an international agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) that governs access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization. Negotiated at the CBD Conference of the Parties in Nagoya, Japan, in 2010, it was opened for signature and entered into force on 12 October 2014 after the required number of ratifications. The protocol is a supplementary agreement to the CBD and provides a framework to support sovereign rights over biological resources and traditional knowledge associated with them.

Its core provisions require countries to establish clear access and benefit-sharing (ABS) mechanisms. Users of genetic resources must obtain prior informed consent (PIC) and enter into mutually agreed terms (MAT) with the resource provider, and they may be required to demonstrate compliance through an Internationally Recognized Certificate of Compliance (IRCC). National authorities and focal points are designated to administer ABS procedures, and provider countries may set terms on how benefits—monetary and non-monetary—are shared.

The protocol covers genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources accessed after the relevant PIC/MAT procedures, and it aims to enhance transparency, capacity-building, technology transfer, and sustainable development. It has been signed by over 100 states and the European Union. Critics point to administrative burden and potential constraints on research, while supporters emphasize clearer rules and fairness in benefit-sharing.