Armenia to join Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and  the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their  Utilization

ArmInfo. On December 18, during its regular meeting, the Armenian government approved a draft law on the ratification of the Nagoya Protocol to the UN Convention  on Biological Diversity on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair  and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization  (ABS). As stated in the explanatory note to the document, the Nagoya  Protocol, was adopted on October 29, 2010, in Nagoya, Japan. 

It provides a transparent legal framework for the effective  implementation of on of the three objectives of the Convention: the  fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization  of genetic resources.  This is expected to result in the following  benefits: in accordance with Article 6 of the Protocol (Access to  Genetic Resources), the Protocol recognizes the sovereign right of  States over their genetic resources and establishes the principles of  prior informed consent (PIC) and mutually agreed terms (MAT).

By ratifying the Protocol, a State receives internationally  recognized tools: - to control the use of its biological resources by  foreign entities, to combat biopiracy, - to conclude favorable  contracts with foreign entities (pharmaceutical, cosmetic,  agricultural, and other companies).

By ratifying the Protocol, a State gains the opportunity to: fully  participate in the development of international rules and standards  for the use of genetic resources; use global information systems,  including the ABS Clearing-House (Article 14 of the Protocol); and  strengthen its position as a responsible and active party in  international environmental policy. The State will also gain access  to additional international financial sources.

The Protocol is linked to the activities of the Global Environment  Facility (GEF) and other donors. By ratifying the Protocol, a State  can: become a recipient of grants for the creation of targeted access  and benefit-sharing (ABS) mechanisms; strengthen the integration of  the Protocol into national biodiversity conservation strategies  (NBSAPs) and climate programs. According to Article 22 of the  Protocol, it creates a framework for technology exchange, joint  research, and knowledge sharing, which is of particular importance  for countries rich in biodiversity but limited in scientific and  technical resources.