Glossary and Abbreviations
Glossary
ABS Regime
The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) decided in 2004 to create an international regime on access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits arising out of their utilization, i.e. the ABS Regime. Negotiations on the regime started in 2005. It is predicted that it will take up to ten years to complete its establishment.
Access
- entering a location/place where genetic resources are found;
- surveying activities;
- obtaining/acquiring genetic resources;
- the use of genetic resources;
- the study or systematic investigation of genetic resources for scientific and/or commercial purposes.
Benefit
Economic or academic advantages arising from research on/utilization of genetic resources.
Biological Resources
Biological resources include genetic resources, organisms or parts thereof, populations, or any other biotic component of ecosystems with actual or potential use or value for humanity (CBD Art. 2).
Biopiracy
Utilisation and/or appropriation of genetic resources that is not based on the necessary access permits or does not fulfil the agreed conditions and therefore is illicit.
Bonn Guidelines (BGL)
Guidelines adopted by Decision VI/24 of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD. The aim of the Bonn Guidelines is to clarify regulations on ABS contained in the CBD. The BGL are an interpretative instrument and not binding in themselves.
Competent Authorities
(Government) agencies or institutions designated by national legislation as competent to negotiate with users of genetic resources and to grant access to them (PIC and MAT). Different levels and types of agencies may be involved in the procedures for granting PIC.
Genetic Material
Genetic material refers to any material of plant, animal, microbial or other origin containing functional units of heredity (CBD Art. 2).
Genetic Resources (GR)
Genetic resources are genetic material, i.e. any material of plant, animal, microbial or other origin containing functional units of heredity that is of actual or potential value (CBD Art. 2). The value need not be commercial (i.e. monetary), but may be scientific or academic in nature. The valuable information must not be genetic; it may also consist, for example, in the biochemical information contained in the material. As »value«, and specifically the potential value, has not yet been defined, virtually all biological resources may fall under this definition.
Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT)
»ABS contracts«, »access permits«, »ABS agreements«: various types of authorization, defining the conditions for access and benefit sharing, by means of which users obtain access to/permission to use genetic resources in order to collect, study and utilize them commercially.
National Focal Point
Each party should designate a national focal point for ABS that informs applicants for access to genetic resources on procedures necessary for acquiring prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms, and on competent national authorities, relevant indigenous and local communities and relevant stakeholders (BGL 13)
Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)
Standardized contract or binding legal agreement between the owner of genetic material and the recipient of the material.
Party to the CBD
States having ratified or accessed to the Convention on Biological Diversity
Prior Informed Consent (PIC)
Prior Informed Consent is the consent of the relevant competent national authority/authorities in the provider country granted for the research and utilization of genetic resources. The consent of relevant stakeholders, such as indigenous and local communities, should also be obtained, as required by individual situations and subject to domestic law.
Procedure
Administrative and/or legal steps necessary to obtain an official decision on a specific issue.
Providers/providing countries
All Contracting Parties to the CBD that provide access to resources situated in their country to users.
Stakeholders
All institutions, agencies, organizations, communities and individuals that may be involved in the ABS procedure in accordance with national law or based on case by case decisions: i.e. government agencies, regional and local governments and representatives of indigenous and local communities, local organizations.
Users
In the academic context, all researchers who access genetic resources (cf. above) and/or make use of genetic resources
Value
The (actual or potential) value of genetic resources has not yet been generally defined; thus virtually all possible uses may be applicable. The implementation depends on national legislation and practice.
Abbreviations
| ABS | Access and Benefit Sharing |
|---|---|
| AMF | Arbuscular mycorrizhal fungi |
| Art. | Article |
| BGL | Bonn Guidelines |
| CBD | Convention on Biological Diversity |
| CHM | Clearing House Mechanism |
| CGIAR | Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research |
| CITES | Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora |
| GR | Genetic Resources |
| IITA | International Institute of Tropical Agriculture |
| IPEN | International Plant Exchange Network |
| IT PGRFA | International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture |
| KFPE | Swiss Commission for Research Partnerships with Developing Countries |
| MAT | Mutually Agreed Terms |
| MTA | Material Transfer Agreement |
| PGRFA | Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture |
| PIC | Prior Informed Consent |
| R&D | Research and Development |
| FOEN | Swiss Federal Office for the Environment |
| TK | Traditional Knowledge |
