Biodiversity: implementing the Nagoya Protocol in the UK

We want to know what you think about how we propose to implement rules on the use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge in the UK.

A genetic resource can be defined as any potentially useful genetic material that contains ‘functional units of heredity’. Utilising genetic resources means attempting to extract any useful traits from them. Often this is done with the intention of commercialising those useful traits. A definition of what we mean by genetic resources and traditional knowledge is available in the glossary of the consultation document.

The Nagoya Protocol obliges the UK and EU to set out how to use and share the benefits from genetic resources. Where genetic resources have been obtained from another country, they must be used in accordance with their laws.

In particular, we want to know what you think about how we plan to enforce these rules. Most of the rules are in an EU Regulation that will be binding in the UK.