Nagoyaprotokollens

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty that complements the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It was adopted in Nagoya, Japan, on October 29, 2010, and entered into force on October 12, 2014. The protocol aims to address two main issues: access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits derived from their use.

Genetic resources are defined in the protocol as "genetic material of actual or potential value." This includes plants, animals, microorganisms, and other biological sources that contain functional units of heredity. The protocol seeks to ensure that countries where these genetic resources originate have a say in how they are accessed and used by researchers, corporations, and other entities.

A key element of the Nagoya Protocol is the concept of Prior Informed Consent (PIC). This means that any party seeking to access genetic resources must obtain permission from the country of origin before doing so. Additionally, the protocol promotes the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits (ABS) arising from the utilization of genetic resources. These benefits can be monetary, such as royalties or license fees, or non-monetary, such as technology transfer, capacity building, or joint research.

The protocol aims to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity by providing legal certainty and incentives for the sustainable use of genetic resources. It also seeks to prevent biopiracy and ensure that the benefits of biodiversity are shared in a way that contributes to sustainable development. Countries that are parties to the protocol are required to establish national legal frameworks and administrative procedures to implement its provisions.