ICC policy brief on nature, traditional knowledge and capacity building (2009)
Publication date : 18/09/2009 | Document Number : 450/1052 and 213/72
The current paper reiterates some of the general principles set out in more detail in the ICC submission to ABS-7 and provides more specific input on the following items which the 8th Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group on Access and Benefit Sharing is mandated to negotiate: nature; traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources; and capacity building. ICC has previously made submissions on the other items of the agenda already discussed during ABS-7 such as compliance, fair and equitable benefit sharing and access.
It is of critical importance that the IR should be a precisely targeted, facilitative structure that promotes national ABS regimes that are transparent, non-discriminatory, predictable and coherent across borders; national ABS regimes that are difficult to reconcile with each other should be avoided. The IR should not be a heavy regulatory framework that will stifle the creation of value from genetic resources, and their trade and sustainable uses. This approach will promote not only the efficient organization of access and benefit sharing, but also the other two pillars of the CBD: conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources. Lessons should be learnt from the experiences of national regimes which show that highly regulated and bureaucratic ABS systems have failed to generate social and economic benefits.
For further information, please contact
Andrea BACHER
Policy Manager, Economic Policy
Tel:
+33 (0)1 49 53 28 48
andrea.bacher@iccwbo.org