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For a long time, biological resources of animal, plant and microbial origin had no legal status. States began to address the issue in 1992, with the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit. It wasn't until October 12, 2014, and the entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol, that an international agreement finally provided a framework for biodiversity conservation and use.

Since then, research organizations and companies the world over have been able to access the genetic resources of all the countries that have approved this treaty. However, the exploitation of these resources can only take place on condition that the benefits are shared fairly and equitably with the supplier countries. This binding mechanism, known as "access and benefit sharing" (ABS), also applies to traditional knowledge associated with resources.

The ABS4BRCs project, launched in 2018 with the support of IBiSA, first involved compiling a list of the laws and regulations in force on the use of biological resources in the various countries that are signatories to the Nagoya Protocol, including France. Once listed, this information was compiled on a website designed with the help of a legal expert recruited as part of the project, and the technical support of computer specialists from the BRCs in the RARe network.

On open access, the web interface created by the project is aimed primarily at collection managers in BRCs and scientists conducting research on genetic resources. The database also includes contact details for the "focal point", the government institution responsible for communicating the steps to be taken when requesting biological resources. Tools are also available to enable the site to respond quickly to any new regulatory developments.

Contact : 

• https://www.projet-abs4brcs.fr/Contacts-cellules-APA