Memo: Questions and answers on access and benefit-sharing

Biodiversity, the variety of life of Earth, is protected by an international convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity (the CBD). The EU and its Member States are Parties to this Convention.

One of its basic principles recognizes that States have sovereign rights over the genetic resources found within their national jurisdiction, and that they can set conditions for access to such resources. In line with Article 15 of the CBD, the signatories should do their best to facilitate access to their genetic resources "for environmentally sound uses".

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Council approves regulation on access to genetic resources http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-approves-regulation-on-access-to-genetic-resources/

ESO: Backgroud information: Statement by Commissioner Potočnik on the outcome of the vote in the European Parliament on the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Regulation http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-statement-by-commissioner-potocnik-on-the-outcome-of-the-vote-in-the-european-parliament-on-the-access-and-benefit-sharing-abs-regulation/

---