Technical rationale: The third objective of the Convention provides for “the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources…”. Genetic resources, whether from plant, animal or micro-organisms, are used for a variety of purposes ranging from basic research to the development of products. Users of genetic resources may include research institutes, universities and private companies operating in various sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, horticulture, cosmetics and biotechnology. The Convention, in its Article 15, sets out principles and obligations of Parties related to access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, on the basis of prior informed consent and mutually-agreed terms.

Implementation: The Bonn Guidelines on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their utilization, adopted in 2002, guide both the providers and users of genetic resources in the application of the access and benefit-sharing provisions of the Convention. They were adopted to assist Parties when establishing administrative, legislative or policy measures on access and benefit-sharing and/or when negotiating contractual arrangements for access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing. At its tenth meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization. Given that this protocol is an international regime the initial target is for its ratification and entry into force by 2015.

Indicators and baseline information: An indicator of access and benefit sharing (ABS) is under development. Possible measures could include the number of countries Party to the international regime, the number of countries with national ABS frameworks/legislation; the number of ABS agreements; the number of technical assistance programmes available for strengthening national ABS programmes; and, potentially, the value of benefits shared. Other possible indicators include the number of competent national authorities established to address issues related to access and benefit sharing as well as the number of academic collaboration projects on ABS.