Principles on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-sharing for Participating Institutions

Participating Institutions endorse the following Principles on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing:

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and laws related to access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge and benefit-sharing

• Honour the letter and spirit of the CBD, The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and laws relating to access and benefit-sharing, including those relating to traditional knowledge.

Acquisition of genetic resources

• In order to obtain prior informed consent, provide a full explanation of how the genetic resources will be acquired and used.
• When acquiring genetic resources from in situ conditions, obtain prior informed consent from the government of the country of origin and any other relevant Stakeholders, according to applicable law and best practice.
• When acquiring genetic resources from ex situ collections (such as botanic gardens), obtain prior informed consent from the body governing the ex situ collection and any additional consents required by that body.
• When acquiring genetic resources from ex situ sources, whether from ex situ collections, commercial sources or individuals, evaluate available documentation and, where necessary, take appropriate steps to ensure that the genetic resources were acquired in accordance with applicable law and best practice.

Use and supply of genetic resources

• Use and supply genetic resources and their derivatives on terms and conditions consistent with those under which they were acquired.
• Prepare a transparent policy on the commercialisation (including plant sales) of genetic resources acquired before and since the CBD entered into force and their derivatives, whether by the Participating Institution or a recipient third party.

Use of written agreements

• Acquire genetic resources and supply genetic resources and derivatives using written agreements, where required by applicable law and best practice, setting out the terms and conditions under which the genetic resources may be acquired, used and supplied and resulting benefits shared.

Benefit-sharing

• Share fairly and equitably with the country of origin and other Stakeholders, the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources and their derivatives including non-monetary, and, in the case of commercialisation, also monetary benefits.
• Share benefits arising from the use of genetic resources acquired prior to the entry into force of the CBD, as far as possible, in the same manner as for those acquired thereafter.

Curation

In order to comply with these Principles, maintain records and mechanisms to:

• record the terms and conditions under which genetic resources are acquired;
• track the use in the Participating Institution and benefits arising from that use; and
• record supply to third parties, including the terms and conditions of supply.

Prepare a policy

• Prepare, adopt and communicate an institutional policy setting out how the Participating Institution will implement these Principles.