Traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources

The business community has been an active participant in negotiations on access to and the sharing of benefits from genetic resources, even before the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1993. The business delegation, coordinated by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), today represents various business sectors with diverse interests in genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge and their sustainable commercial uses. These include agricultural biotechnology, animal breeding, cosmetics, farming, flavors and fragrances, forestry, herbal medicines and supplements, industrial biotechnology, pets, pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical products, and plant breeding (listed in alphabetical order).

Specifically with respect to TK relating to GR, business shares a common interest with indigenous and local communities in greater transparency, predictability, and a balance of benefits against costs of proposed ABS regulations at both the national and international level. Business underscores its continuing commitment to commercialization of GR and associated TK only with the prior informed consent (PIC) of relevant stakeholders and on mutually agreed terms (MAT), consistent with the Bonn Guidelines.

On this basis, ICC offers the following views on the issues under consideration by the Technical

Expert Group on Traditional Knowledge Associated with Genetic Resources.