New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) India accounts for over 56 per cent of Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance issued under the Nagoya Protocol on ABS, Environment Ministry officials said on Tuesday.
The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework ensures that when companies or individuals use biological resources, such as plants and microorganisms, the benefits arising from that use are fairly shared with local communities and farmers, who conserve these resources.
According to the latest data on the ABS Clearing-House, India has issued 3,561 compliance certificates out of a global total of 6,311, placing it far ahead of all other countries in implementing the protocol.
“Out of 142 countries registered on the ABS Clearing-House, a global platform that promotes transparency and accountability, only 34 have issued Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) so far. India is followed by France with 964 certificates, Spain (320), Argentina (257), Panama (156) and Kenya (144),” the Environment Ministry said in a statement.
Under the Nagoya Protocol, countries granting access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge are required to issue IRCCs. These certificates serve as official evidence that prior informed consent has been obtained and that mutually agreed terms have been established between users and providers of resources. The details are then uploaded to the ABS Clearing-House.
“IRCCs play a crucial role in tracking how genetic resources are used, from research and innovation to eventual commercial applications, ensuring that benefits are shared fairly with the provider country,” the statement said. PTI GJS PRK
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