NEWS
PROJECT
Project description
Thematic area: Global Challenges. Dialogue: Environmental Dimension of Sustainable Development
ABS - Brazil-EU Access & Benefit Sharing sector guidance
Beneficiaries: 
Ministry of Sciency, Technology, Innovation and Communication / 
Directorate-General for the Environment.
Call: 10th
Project Overview:
The access and the use of genetic resources are of great importance for non-commercial and commercial research, supporting environmental management, scientific excellence and the development and delivery of products.
The greatest biodiversity of Brazil has led to a high level of scientific and commercial collaborations with European Union members, also in the context of access and benefit sharing (ABS) legislation.
Brazil enacted new legislation on access in 2015 and 2016, and the EU in 2014 and 2015, soon after the ratification of the Nagoya Protocol in 2014. However, some of the stakeholders are still uncertain about their legal responsibilities and how they should be fulfilled, as long as Brazil has not ratified the Nagoya Protocol yet and due to concept differences between the legislation of the two regions.
There are specific operational challenges for research, regulatory activities and contract management as result of the access and the use of the genetic assets in silico (genetic data available in database), particularly in the light of emerging technologies such as genomic mapping.
This project will address several issues regarding genetic resources, among others:
(a) whether there is sufficient clarity on the procedures necessary for a series of scenarios around research on GR in Brazil with EU engagement, and what needs to be contractually managed (also in view of the different legal frameworks);
(b) how database managers deal with the use of genetic mapping data (non-commercial and commercial);
(c) what are the practical implications for Brazilian and EU researchers that wish to use genomic mapping data from Brazilian genetic asset stored in public and private databases; and for the managers of these databases; and
(d) what procedures Brazil has adopted to enable compliance with its ABS legislation.
All of these issues will be addressed in a workshop in Brazil with the attendance of experts from the academic sector, the business sector, database managers, regulatory authorities and public policymakers. The workshop will focus on practical questions and will provide, in addition to a report of the activities carried out, an information booklet for users, regulators and public policymakers of the area.
The report will mainly highlight issues on which there are no consensus among the participants.
It is believed that, by clarifying uncertain areas and examining practical issues, this dialogue will provide the necessary information to manage the implementation of the regulations and contracts, and will also foster scientific and technological exchange between Brazil and the European Union.