Workshop for the presentation and validation of the draft law relating to access to and sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources
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As part of the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, NAFORE participated in a workshop to present and validate the draft law on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing (ABS) in Mauritania. This workshop brought together institutional, scientific, and community stakeholders to discuss the legal framework aimed at ensuring the sustainable management of genetic resources and the equitable distribution of benefits.
Key points addressed:
- Sovereignty and community rights: affirmation of state sovereignty over genetic resources and recognition of the rights of local communities and associated traditional knowledge.
- Access to resources: subject to prior informed consent (PIC), agreed terms and conditions (ATC), and authorization by the National Advisory Committee on Access to Genetic Resources (ANC-APA), with scientific consultation for in situ resources. Any new use or transfer requires separate authorization.
- Management and monitoring: the ANC-APA manages applications, licenses, and compliance monitoring. The law also provides for the development of a national inventory of genetic resources and an indicative list of resources of interest.
NAFORE’s participation in this workshop illustrates its commitment to the valorization of genetic resources, the protection of traditional knowledge, and the implementation of sustainable environmental policies in Mauritania.
