In order to use and research on genetic material, the samples we use in FOGS must comply with the Nagoya protocol regulation. This protocol consists on different kinds of agreement made with the country authority, called national focal point, responsible for protecting its genetic resources as well as its population interest through fair Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS). It is one of the three overreaching objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Each country party to the protocol is in charge of implementing its own rules, though the NP act as a guide and recommendation on how to properly protect the country’s interest without impeding the use of genetic material either for commercial and fundamental research. Its complete implementation is still challenging for country authorities.
The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing is a binding international agreement that entered into force on the 12th October 2014 and provides a legal framework for the implementation of the ABS-objective of the CBD. In the EU, the Nagoya Protocol is implemented by the EU-Regulation 511/2014. In Germany, the EU-Regulation is implemented since 01.06.2016 by the “Act Implementing the Obligations under the Nagoya Protocol and Transposing Regulation (EU) No. 511/2014”.
ZFMK is a member of CETAF (Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities), and follows CETAF’s Code of Conduct and Best Practice for Access and Benefit-Sharing to comply with national and international regulations on the management of genetic resources through the CBD and the Nagoya Protocol.