Governments Prepare for Implementation of Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing

Governments have set up concrete groundwork for the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing of Genetic Resources during the third meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing (ICNP 3) conducted on 28 February 2014 in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The major outcomes of the meeting include the following:

• A global multilateral benefits-sharing mechanism will be in place to address instances of benefit sharing, including the use of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, that occur in transboundary situations or for which it is not possible to grant or obtain prior informed consent. ICNP agreed on a road map that will allow Parties to unravel the complexities of the mechanism.
• The pilot phase of the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing House (ABSCH) was launched, and training sessions were held. Governments underscored the critical importance of a fully functional ABSCH when the Protocol is implemented.
• Adoption of a strategic framework to assist developing countries to build capacity to implement the Protocol was recommended. It will be the cornerstone of implementation on the ground and play a pivotal role for making the Nagoya Protocol a reality at national level. 

As of today, 29 countries have ratified the Protocol. It will enter into force 90 days after the 50th country has ratified the protocol.

Read the press release at http://www.cbd.int/doc/press/2014/pr-2014-02-28-icnp3-en.pdf.