Many countries have signed an international agreement on the use of genetic resources (see list of countries). This protocol, adopted as a supplement to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya (Japan), regulates since October 2014 access to non-human biological material ("genetic resources") for research purposes. However, countries that have not implemented the Nagoya Agreement may also expect to share benefits arising from such use. The standardised procedure that describes access to biological material and the possible benefit sharing is called ABS (Access and Benefit Sharing).
ZMT scientists may therefore need ABS approval when working with biological material and must sign a benefit-sharing agreement. When working in States Parties to the Nagoya Protocol, at the end of the ABS process a Due Diligence Declaration is submitted via the EU-wide DECLARE portal. Violations of the Nagoya Protocol can lead to confiscation of research materials, monetary fines and the prevention of publication of the respective research results.
Further information on the compliance with the Nagoya Protocol can be found on the websites below. For individual questions about the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol at ZMT please write to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The German Nagoya Protocol HuB (Hilfe und Beratung) provides extensive information material and good overviews for researcher in Germany. In addition the side provides examples of the implementation of individual research projects in different countries: https://www.nagoyaprotocol-hub.de.
The Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House (ABSCH) is an international platform for the exchange of information on access and benefit-sharing: https://absch.cbd.int/en/
The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation monitors the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol in Germany: https://www.bfn.de/nagoya-protokoll.
The Leibniz institute DMSZ describes the individual steps up to obtaining the due diligence declaration: https://www.dsmz.de/collection/nagoya-protocol
Contact:
Dr. Achim Meyer
Tel: +49( 0)421 238 00 - 131
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