New Elements of the International Regime on Access and Benefit-Sharing of Genetic Resources - The Role of Certificates of Origin

The debate on an international regime for access and benefit-sharing (ABS) of genetic resources is rapidly gaining momentum. A common goal of all those involved should be to contribute to a regime that provides an effective means of promoting access and benefit-sharing in a fair and equitable way, offers legal clarity and certainty, and thereby protects both users and providers. What could be gained would be the building of trust between the provider and user side. Ultimately, access and benefit-sharing should contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

This project is concerned mainly with the role certificates of origin, source or legal provenance could play in such an ABS regime.