Act on genetic resources (ABS Act) came into force 1.9.2016

Publication date 5.9.2016 10.07
Press release

Act on genetic resources (ABS Act) came into force 1.9.2016

On September 1st 2016, Act 394/2016 enforcing the Nagoya Protocol (also known as the ABS-Act) came into force in Finland. Nagoya Protocol is an international treaty which is part of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Nagoya Protocol concerns the access to genetic resources and on the fair and equitable sharing of their benefits. Obligations arising from the Protocol and related regulations apply to all genetic resources of flora, fauna and microbes, when they are accessed for research and development activities. The Protocol applies to all genetic resources except for human beings. It is valid in all the geographical areas of the parties to the Protocol, excluding Antarctica and high seas. Certain species important for the global food security that are included in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources are also excluded. The Protocol includes obligations concerning access to and utilisation of traditional knowledge held by indigenous people and local communities.

Obligations of the ABS-Act apply for research and development with genetically modified organisms when the country of origin of the genetic resources used has chosen to restrict the access to its genetic resources. Should you plan to use such genetic resources, please consult first the purview of the ABS-Act and its obligations at http://www.biodiversity.fi/geneticresources/home. The Board for Gene Technology has no role in the implementation of the ABS-Act; the national competent authorities are the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and the Natural Resources Institute of Finland (LUKE).

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