ABS Best Practice Standard + Handbook
Sponsored by SECODeveloped by:IISD, Stratos Inc., Jorge Cabrera
Launch of the ABS Management Tool
Side EventABS Working Group 6
MeetingGeneva
January 22, 2008
Event Purpose
Introduce and launch the ABS Management Tool – Final version
Discuss use of the ABS-MT as:
A voluntary best practice standard to facilitate ABS activities
An instrument for capacity building + sharing of best practices
2
3
Background to the ABS-MT
The Swiss government’s purpose with this project is to develop a management tool to support the implementation of the provisions of the CBD on access and Benefit Sharing:• Facilitating access - providing guidance to industry
and researchers as users of genetic resources• Ensuring prior informed consent and fair and
equitable sharing of benefits – for governments and communities as providers of genetic resources
History of Involvement Co-chair ABS Expert Panel (1999/2000) Study on certification system - bio
prospecting (2001) Swiss Guidelines (Inf. doc) as an input to
Bonn Guidelines (2002) Good Practice for Academic Research on
Genetic Resources – Swiss Academy of Sciences (2005)
Development and testing of ABS MT (2004 – 2007)
Publication of ABS-Management Tool (2008)
4
Importance of this new Tool
Support implementation of the Bonn Guidelines and International Regime
Responds to the ABS capacity building action plan (COP decision VII/19f)
Encourage commercial opportunities for access and development of genetic resources – under agreed terms
5
6
ABS Management Tool Project
Phase 1 (2003 - 2004) Research on ABS and other standards Development of working draft Management Tool International Advisory Committee
Phase 2 (2004 – 2007) Field Testing Outreach and stakeholder consultations Assessment of implementation options Revision and finalization of the ABS-MT International Advisory Committee
Phase 3 (ABS WG 5 2007 – March 2008) International consultation on implementation and use
7
ABS Management Tool Project
Supported by Swiss State Secretariat for Economic
Affairs (SECO)
Executed by International Institute for Sustainable
DevelopmentStratos Inc. Jorge Cabrera
8
Project ActivitiesDevelopment of the Management Tool:
Working Draft + User Guide – 2004 Revised Working Draft – 2006 Best Practice Standard and Handbook – 2007
• Online accessibility in English, French and Spanish
Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement
Field Testing of the ABS – MT
Design of an Implementation Plan and TOR
9
Outreach and Feedback
CBD Forums Industry Indigenous Peoples Governments Researchers NGOs International ABS Practitioners Workshop
Costa Rica
International stakeholder meeting on implementation and use at ABS WG 5
10
Testing the Management Tool in Practice
Field Tests
Use of the ABS-MT in new ABS negotiations (project level)
• Australia
• Bolivia
• Cameroon
• Malaysia
• Tanzania
11
Lessons Learned – ABS Trends
Need for capacity building – governments, Indigenous peoples, other communities, companies
Growing areas of activity• Bulk collection of genetic/biological resources –
cosmetics, herbal medicines• Micro-organisms, plants, animals with novel
enzymes• New environments – marine, severe environmental
conditions• Large companies re-engaging – but through
researchers
Strong demand for international guidance• By governments, industry, research institutions +
communities
12
The Need ABS Management Tool
Build confidence to interact
Guide & inform negotiation and decision-making
Engender trust to work together
Ensure compliance with the Bonn Guidelines
Provider UserCollaborative and
mutually beneficial relationships
13
What the ABS – MT Provides
Voluntary best practice standard and handbook provides neutral guidance and tools on ABS practice for Users and Providers to ensure compliance with the Bonn Guidelines and CBD requirements
A structured process and fair and equitable means for participating in and making decisions about ABS negotiations and the implementation of ABS agreements
14
Application of the ABS – MT
The ABS-MT applies to all stages of genetic resource activity: Prior to access Access (collection and bio-discovery) Academic research Research and development Commercialization and commercial use
The ABS-MT is relevant to many sectors: Pharmaceuticals Botanicals + Neutraceuticals Biotechnology Horticulture including ornamentals Agriculture (except where the FAO ITGRFA
applies)
15
Application of the ABS – MT
The ABS-MT can be used by: Large and small companies Governments Local and indigenous communities Academic researchers – where future
potential for commercial interest Public and private research
institutions Holders of ex situ collections e.g.
gardens, genetic resource collections Intermediaries
16
Insert volume 1 divider from MT
17
18
19
Management Processes
Use in an Organization’s Management System or Procedures
Other Management Considerations:
The Participation of Indigenous and Local Communities
Documentation and Information-management sharing
Reporting
Emerging Practices on Certificate of Origin/Compliance with National Law
21
The Handbook
Part 1: Good Practice Guidance
Part 2: Supporting Tools Roadmap of interaction with national legal
frameworks ABS agreement matrix for GR users Material transfer agreements Model contract outline Guidance on negotiating strategies Links to sector-specific guidelines
Part 3: Case Studies
22
Use of the ABS - MT
23
Use of the ABS - MT
1) A voluntary best practice standard to facilitate ABS negotiations between users and providers of genetic resources
2) A substantive basis for building capacity with national governments, companies, researchers and communities
3) A mechanism for sharing of best practices
24
25
Implementation of the ABS – Management Tool
Main Activities
Practical Use of the ABS-MT
Capacity building
Sharing of Best Practices
Strategic Elements
PartnershipsTechnical Support
Instrument for training + capacity building
Practitioners Network
Interest and use of the ABS-MT Industry e.g.
Japan Bio industry Association (JBA) Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
International and development organizations e.g. German – Dutch ABS Capacity Building programme IUCN – The World Conservation Union International Development Research Centre
Government Australia’s Northern Territory Government
Research institutions e.g. Australian Institute of Marine Science
Other best practice standards BioTrade Facilitation Program (BTFP) International Standard on Sustainable Collection of Medicinal
and Aromatic Plants (IUCN/WWF/BfN)
26
Next Steps
Successful investment made by government of Switzerland in the development and testing of the ABS-MT
The ABS-MT is ready as a neutral platform for: Facilitating user-provider negotiations; and Capacity building for governments and others
The ABS-MT is ready for use by governments and different stakeholders
27
Discussion
How can governments and different stakeholders use the ABS-MT for user-provider negotiations and for capacity building?
Governments; International organizations; Research institutions; Companies and industry associations; and Biodiversity owners and managers, including
local and indigenous communities.
28