Nagoya Protocol / Cartagena Protocol

Nagoya Protocol

The Nagoya  Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement which aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and to technologies, and by appropriate funding, thereby contributing to the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components. It was adapted by the Conference of the parties to the Convention biological Diversity at its tenth meeting in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan. The Nagoya Protocol will enter into force 90 days after the date of deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification. The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources is one of the three objectives of the convention on Biological Diversity.

Cartagena Protocol

 The Cartagena protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty governing the movements of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology from one country to another. It was adopted as a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity and entered into force in 2003.

In 2000, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological diversity adopted a supplementary to the Convention known as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. It establishes an advance informed agreement (AIA) procedure for ensuring that countries are provided with the information necessary to make informed decisions before agreeing to the import of such organisms into their territory. The Protocol contains reference to a precautionary approach reaffirms the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. The Protocol also establishes a Biosafely Clearing – House to facilitate the exchange of information on living modified organisms and to assist countries in the implementation of the protocol.