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Online Journal, URL: http://bioline.bdt.org.br/py Guest Editorial: Access to genetic resources and the Andean Pact Vanderlei Canhos Director, Base de Dados Tropical, Campinas, Brazil
The publication of PY97001, Camacho & Giaquinto, in Biopolicy has drawn attention to some of the problems associated with access to genetic resources and technology transfer met by a group in Ecuador. Since the preparation of this paper, there has been political activity in the drafting of the Andean Pact that will have implications for such groups. This brief editorial provides information on this that may be useful for others in the region and elsewhere. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has established a new international legal framework governing access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits derived from their utilization. The CBD provides countries with the opportunity to assert sovereignty over their genetic resources and many countries are taking measures to establish national legislation on genetic resources access and developing procedures to implement the legislation. An excellent review on the recent developments on the issue is the document "Managing Access to Genetic Resources: Towards Strategies for Benefit Sharing" (Mugabe et al, 1996) published by ACTS Press (African Centre for Technology Studies, Nairobi, Kenya, e-mail: acts@arso.sasa.unon.org). The document stresses that access to genetic resources must be on "mutually agreed terms" (MAT) and with "prior informed consent" (PIC) of the providing Party. The importance of developing MATs and legally-binding PICs and mechanisms to carry them out is one of the highest priorities for countries wishing to regulate access to genetic resources and share the benefits of their use. The PIC, addressed by Article 15(5) of the Convention, is the basis for monitoring and controlling the collection of material. Countries should therefore establish national legislation that makes importation of genetic material without complying with PIC requirements of the providing country illegal. The Andean Pact - comprising Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela - have formulated a draft common law on access which covers genetic resources and derivatives.
(email: acts@arso.sasa.unon.org)
Relevant CBD documents are the following: UNEP/CBD/COP/2/13 - Access to genetic resources and benefit- sharing: legislation, administrative and policy information. UNEP/CBD/COP/3/20 - Access to genetic resources UNEP/CBD/COP/3/Inf.19 - Access to microbial genetic resources UNEP/CBD/COP/3/Inf.49 - The Biotrade Initiative: A new approach to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. UNEP/CBD/COP/3/Inf.53 - Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. These may all be obtained online from the World Wide Web address http://www.unep.ch/bio/conv-e.html Additional related information on Ecuador and biodiversity can be obtained from the following documents available online:
http://www.wr i.org/wri/data/dces-642.html
1997 USAID Development Assistance to Ecuador
Ecuadorian Rainforest Conservation Documents
Ecuanex
Ecuadorian Amazon
Editorial Office: biopol@biostrat.demon.co.uk Biopolicy, Vol2, Paper PY97002, 1997 Online Journal, URL: http://bioline.bdt.org.br/py Guest Editorial: Access to genetic resources and the Andean Pact Vanderlei Canhos Director, Base de Dados Tropical, Campinas, Brazil
The publication of PY97001, Camacho & Giaquinto, in Biopolicy has drawn attention to some of the problems associated with access to genetic resources and technology transfer met by a group in Ecuador. Since the preparation of this paper, there has been political activity in the drafting of the Andean Pact that will have implications for such groups. This brief editorial provides information on this that may be useful for others in the region and elsewhere. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has established a new international legal framework governing access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits derived from their utilization. The CBD provides countries with the opportunity to assert sovereignty over their genetic resources and many countries are taking measures to establish national legislation on genetic resources access and developing procedures to implement the legislation. An excellent review on the recent developments on the issue is the document "Managing Access to Genetic Resources: Towards Strategies for Benefit Sharing" (Mugabe et al, 1996) published by ACTS Press (African Centre for Technology Studies, Nairobi, Kenya, e-mail: acts@arso.sasa.unon.org). The document stresses that access to genetic resources must be on "mutually agreed terms" (MAT) and with "prior informed consent" (PIC) of the providing Party. The importance of developing MATs and legally-binding PICs and mechanisms to carry them out is one of the highest priorities for countries wishing to regulate access to genetic resources and share the benefits of their use. The PIC, addressed by Article 15(5) of the Convention, is the basis for monitoring and controlling the collection of material. Countries should therefore establish national legislation that makes importation of genetic material without complying with PIC requirements of the providing country illegal. The Andean Pact - comprising Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela - have formulated a draft common law on access which covers genetic resources and derivatives.
(email: acts@arso.sasa.unon.org)
Relevant CBD documents are the following: UNEP/CBD/COP/2/13 - Access to genetic resources and benefit- sharing: legislation, administrative and policy information. UNEP/CBD/COP/3/20 - Access to genetic resources UNEP/CBD/COP/3/Inf.19 - Access to microbial genetic resources UNEP/CBD/COP/3/Inf.49 - The Biotrade Initiative: A new approach to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. UNEP/CBD/COP/3/Inf.53 - Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. These may all be obtained online from the World Wide Web address http://www.unep.ch/bio/conv-e.html Additional related information on Ecuador and biodiversity can be obtained from the following documents available online:
http://www.wr i.org/wri/data/dces-642.html
1997 USAID Development Assistance to Ecuador
Ecuadorian Rainforest Conservation Documents
Ecuanex
Ecuadorian Amazon
Editorial Office: biopol@biostrat.demon.co.uk
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