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Convention on Biological Diversity

The 'Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)' has essentially replaced the 'principle of common heritage of genetic resources' (as initially also envisaged under FAO's 'International Undertaking on PGR') by the 'concept of national sovereign rights over genetic resources'. The convention also formalizes the responsibility of individual nations to" conserve and use their biodiversity (Article 3).

There has been a debate on how this right of national sovereignty could be implemented in countries which lack the legal infrastructure to set up patent offices, courts, etc. The developing countries will have to formulate regulatory and legislative measures to achieve the desired benefits from the sovereign rights. However,CGIAR system, FAO and IPGRI have already taken some effective measures, so that sovereign rights of nations may be realized. 

 Article 15 of CBD addresses the issue of 'access to genetic resources' and states that the authority to determine access to genetic resources rests within the national governments and is subject to national legislation. In Article 15 of CBD, it h; provided that the access of one State to genetic resources of another State will be allowed for 'environmentalily sound use' with 'prior. informed consent' and will be based on 'mutually agreed terms'.
The implementation of the above provision would require that countries develop registers of biological resources, prepare national legislation and create institutions to enforce regulatory measures. In this connection, the mechanisms to facilitate prior informed consent and benefits have yet to develop in most countries.

Provisions of Article 15 of CBD regarding access to genetic resources are also linked to those of Article 16 regarding access of industrialized countries (in the North) to genetic resources in the South. This should facilitate access of the developing countries (in the South) to the products developed from these genetic resources and also to the 'technologies that are relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity'.

Article 19 of the Convention also requires that any nation utilizing genetic resources of another nation for biotechnological research activities, will take measures to allow this other nation an effective participation in these activities and also an access (on fair and equitable basis) to the results and benefits derived from these activities on mutually agreed terms. Appropriate procedures for agreement should also be developed for safe transfer, and handling of living genetically modified organisms (GMOs) having possible adverse effect on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This Article 19 had a major influence on the decision of USA, while ratifying the convention, since this will have a significant bearing on their world leadership in biotechnology research.