Debates on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing have long been polarised around several conflicts arising from the categorisation of stakeholders along divides such as users/providers, North/South or Access/Benefit sharing.
ABS governance For the last three years, IDDRI has been exploring the issue of international rules for guaranteeing a fairer use and trade of genetic resources (ABS). In particular, it organized several roundtables and released publications on a range of subjects, including certificates of origin and compliance mechanisms for ensuring access and benefit-sharing (1). Following these dialogues IDDRI’s representatives collaborated and exchanged reflections with the users of genetic resources being TK holders, public sector researchers or private sector users. As a result, IDDRI feels that in the CBD forum, a consensus is forming around the terms of transparency and traceability related to the flows of genetic resources. Now the issue is about determining the best tools for the establishment, monitoring and control of genetic resource uses to be guaranteed. States are reflecting on ways to put in place a practicable system but IDDRI supports the view that other actors and actually all the stakeholders involved in ABS issues — and the actors along the supply chain are multiple and diverse — should be invited to discuss such a common system. In line with that argument, private users also have responsibilities: some companies have already created codes of conduct in the field of ABS.
IDDRI is accompanying this movement along with companies as well as researchers who can play a decisive role in monitoring the flows of genetic resources. As regards the exchange of genetic resources, IDDRI consequently attempts to clarify user companies’ practices in relation to the CBD’s equity objectives. This aim is pursued by identifying the key issues concerning these actors and assessing the possibilities for improvement and by feeding international debates with the elements gathered.
Partnering with pharmaceuticals Regarding the ABS issue, international negotiators are looking for a positive and balanced solution, through the concepts of traceability and transparency of genetic resource flows. However, this solution encounters technical barriers that are linked to the growing complexity of global genetic resource exchanges, while the status quo seems less and less workable. The voice of emerging countries has to be taken into account since it changes the former divides between North and South, users and providers, access and benefit sharing and leads to new potential alliances. As these countries are at the same time rich in biodiversity and able to use genetic resources for their industries, the old conflict between users and providers may be abandoned to consider new partnerships and design more balanced exchange schemes.
It seems that two possible ways are emerging to lead to such a new era. On the one hand, through the objectives of transparency and traceability; on the other hand through the creation of innovative partnerships. In both cases, the constructive participation of business appears as a necessary condition for success.
Since 2006, for example, IDDRI has entered into a partnership with the French Pharmaceutical Companies Association (LEEM). The main purpose of the partnership, in preparation of COP-9, is to help LEEM better understand ABS developments under the Convention. The agreement is to help LEEM determine the conditions for involvement of its member companies in the implementation of the ABS provisions of the Convention. It should thus help LEEM determine the conditions for an active and constructive participation in ABS negotiations. IDDRI provides, for example, LEEM with information and reports on the CBD discussions that are then discussed between LEEM members. The organisation of an international workshop is also planned between WG-ABS-5 and WG-ABS-6.
The collaboration between LEEM and IDDRI is a step towards opening the dialogue to other stakeholders. Further development of comparable initiatives around the world could contribute to the effective implementation of benefit-sharing.
Amandine Bled is ABS project manager,
Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales (IDDRI).
(1) See references listed in the Publications section, page 39.
