The EMBRC Guide to ABS Compliance: Recommendations to Marine Biological Resources, Collections’ and Users’ Institutions. D5.1.

Abstract

The EMBRC handbook presents a set of guidelines and recommendations to collections and users of genetic resources to familiarize and adopt best practices to comply with the ABS framework. Collections and biobanks holding resources from different origins will find in this handbook a useful set of practices to exercise due diligence and manage the ABS requirements. Scientists will be aware of any ABS requirements before undertaking any fieldwork or scientific cruise collecting biomaterial. The handbook will also facilitate the collected material to be prepared for conservation, for any further use and transfer. Implementing the recommended best practices will: • Harmonise standards/procedures within the community; • Facilitate compliance of its users to applicable legislation; • Reduce administrative burden and create a safety-net process for researchers (for obtaining funding and for publications); • Increase transparency on how genetic resources and the associated traditional knowledge are utilised; • Facilitate fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from utilisation of genetic resources; • Promote non-monetary benefit-sharing for non-commercial research; • Reduce the risk of unlawful utilisation of genetic resources (and minimize the risk of legal consequences and in terms of international cooperation for researchers and their organisation); • Increase legal certainty; and • Attract users of bioresources to the EMBRC biobanks. Summary of recommendations Institutions should identify which activities they carry out will require managing and define the institutions responsibility for ABS. In some instances, current policies and procedures will be adequate and if not, modifications are required following the technical annexes.