Access & Benefit Sharing WHAT IS ABS? ABS stands for Access and Benefit Sharing and implies that the utilization of genetic resources which belong to Sovereign States may require Prior Informed Consent (PIC) for their taking from the wild or any repositories, and may be subject to benefit sharing agreements based on Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT) between the user and the provider.
TO WHAT DOES ABS APPLY? Organisms, their parts or derivatives that occur naturally or originated in a country which has sovereign rights upon them (e.g. wild algae, crop landraces, traditional animal breeds, etc.) Traditional knowledge associated with those organisms or derivatives. Organisms and derivatives accessed after the 12th October 2014 from countries which are Party to the Nagoya Protocol. Research or R&D activities including genetic, biotechnological, or biochemical applications which lead to new products within the EU.
How to comply with the ABS laws...
Ask for Prior Informed Consent
Negotiate Mutually Agreed Terms
Get a Certificate of Compliance
Taking of genetic resources or their associated derivatives from the wild or any repository may require the written permission of the Sovereign State to which the resources belong.
The benefits obtained from the utilization of genetic resources or their associated derivatives which belong to a Sovereign State may be subjected to contractual benefit sharing agreements.
An Internationally Recognized Certificate of Compliance (IRCC) is proof that PIC was given and MAT were negotiated, and may be obtained through a National Competent Authority.
For more information contact the ABS Â National Competent Authority Plant Protection Directorate, 110, Annibale Preca Street, Lija LJA 1915, MALTA Tel.: +356 2292 6535 Email: plantprotection.mesdc@gov.mt