UK Focal Point on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing

Introduction | Legal Summary | Access To Resources | Related Links

Introduction and context

About focal points and competent national authorities on access and benefit-sharing

In May 2000, the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity requested Parties “to designate a national focal point and one or more competent national authorities, as appropriate, to be responsible for access and benefit-sharing arrangements or to provide information on such arrangements within its jurisdiction;” and to notify the CBD’s Executive Secretary of the names and addresses of its focal points and competent authorities.” (Decision 5/26). Following this Decision, the international Expert Panel established by the CBD Secretariat on access and benefit-sharing has met twice , and, among other issues, discussed the functions of a focal point and competent national authorities on access and benefit-sharing. In summary, the purpose of the focal point and any competent national authorities is to advise people on requirements within the country for access to genetic resources on mutually agreed terms:

• Role of the focal point: to provide information on access and benefit-sharing procedures in the country and to identify any Competent National Authorities and other stakeholders whose prior informed consent may be needed.
• Role of the competent national authority: to process and take decisions upon applications for access to genetic resources.

A more detailed description of these roles can be found in relevant excerpts of the reports of the Expert Panel, or in the full reports of the first and second meetings of the Panel.

In addition, information is available on the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing , held in Bonn, Germany, from 22-26 October 2001. This Working Group had the mandate to develop guidelines and other approaches for submission to the Conference of the Parties and to assist Parties and stakeholders in addressing the following elements as relevant to access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing, inter alia:

• Terms for prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms
• Roles, responsibilities and participation of stakeholders
• Relevant aspects relating to in situ and ex situ conservation and sustainable use
• Mechanisms for benefit-sharing, for example through technology transfer and joint research and development;
• And means to ensure the respect, preservation and maintenance of knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.

The mandate and role of a national focal point and any competent national authorities on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing also formed part of the discussion at that meeting.

At present, the UK has not established any competent national authorities on access. Individuals are able to access genetic resources by following the steps described on this Focal Point Website.

Access and benefit-sharing focal points and competent national authorities for a few other countries have also been notified to the Executive Secretary of the CBD.