Brussels, 04/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Commission is proposing that the European Union transposes the Nagoya Protocol into European law. This protocol involves access to genetic resources and fair and balanced sharing of the advantages resulting from their use (ABS Protocol). It was approved at the end of 2010 by the signatory parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 10).
The draft European regulation adopted on Thursday 4 October to this end aims to protect the rights of indigenous and local communities who give their permission to use their genetic resources and traditional knowledge. In exchange, it gives European researchers more reliable access to samples of quality genetic resources at an appropriate price.
If the text is approved by the Council and the European Parliament, it will compel users to ensure that access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge complies with legislation in force in the country of origin and the sharing of advantages resulting from the use is fair and balanced. Users will also be obliged to declare that they are appropriately and diligently applying the regulation and any contravention will be penalised accordingly.
A register of reliable EU collections, such as seed banks and botanical gardens will be set up to identify collections for which there is a commitment to not transmit samples of genetic resources unless they are accompanied by the necessary documentation. Users who obtain their research materials from a reliable collection will be deemed to have respected the obligation incumbent upon them with regard to the commitment of due diligence. Any new platform will be set up to streamline access conditions in member states. (AN/trans.fl)