There are various ways to find sample ABS measures. First, you can browse national measures in the Country Profiles (https://absch.cbd.int/countries).  Click “MSR” in the grey bar above the country list and you will see all countries that have published legislative, administrative and policy measures relating to ABS. Country profiles contain all the information on ABS made available by a country, and can be useful for understanding the national legal framework and the specific institutional structures in place.  

In addition, you can find related information in the Reference Records, in the section called "Model contractual clauses, codes of conduct, guidelines, best practices and/or standard": https://absch.cbd.int/search/referenceRecords?schema=modelContractualClause.

Regional regulations show up in the Country Profile of all Parties in the respective region.  For example, the EU regulations show up in the Country Profiles of all EU Member States under Legislative, Administrative and Policy Measures (MSR), in addition to any national records.  This is in order that a user may see all applicable legislation in one place, both domestic and regional.  The regional measures can only be edited by the country who has the regional authority to published the measure, in this case the EU.

Parties and Non-Parties

By publishing national information on the ABS Clearing-House, Parties to the Nagoya Protocol and other governments, help both users and providers of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. Users can find the information they need to access genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, while providers will find tools to monitor the utilization of these resources. Parties have an obligation to use the ABS Clearing-House to share certain information of particular importance to the implementation of the Protocol. Non-Parties to the Protocol are also encouraged to participate and use the ABS Clearing-House to share the same information required by Parties.

Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs)

IPLCs can use the ABS Clearing-House to share information on how to access traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, such as community protocols and procedures and customary laws. They can also access and contribute to the ABS Clearing-House with awareness-raising and capacity-building materials on ABS in their own indigenous languages.

Private sector and research institutions

Private sector and research institutions utilizing or seeking access to genetic resources can also benefit from the ABS Clearing-House by finding reliable and up-to-date information on how to access genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. They can also use the ABS Clearing-House to share information on the model contractual clauses, codes of conduct, guidelines and best practices that they have developed.

Organizations involved in capacity-building for the Nagoya Protocol

Organizations involved in capacity-building for the Nagoya Protocol can share capacity-building resources and materials and information on their projects or activities, including lessons learned from their implementation. In exchange, they are able to access information on projects or resources registered by other actors, and therefore, create opportunities for capitalizing best practices and developing coordinated approaches to building and developing capacity.

International and non-governmental organizations and others

International and non-governmental organizations and others can raise awareness and promote capacity building on ABS through the ABS Clearing-House. The ABS Clearing-House offers a space to share materials, general literature and learning material related to ABS and the Nagoya Protocol. These resources can contribute to promote ratification and implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, as well as increase opportunities for collaboration among the ABS community.

Facilitates connections between users and providers of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.

The  ABS Clearing-House allows providers to share information on contacts, procedures and requirements for accessing genetic resources and traditional knowledge. Users can use the ABS Clearing-House to easily find information how to access these resources in an organized manner, and all in one convenient location. By providing access to reliable information the ABS Clearing-House facilitates the connection between users and providers of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, and therefore promotes opportunities to develop fair and equitable ABS agreements.

Helps users to comply with ABS measures and requirements.

By sharing reliable information regarding national procedures and requirements on ABS, countries can help users of their genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge understand and follow ABS rules and facilitate users’ compliance with national legislation.

Provides tools to help monitor the utilization of genetic resources.

Through a centralized and standardized system the ABS Clearing-House plays a key role in helping providers monitor how their genetic resources are being used throughout the value chain. When a provider country grants access to a genetic resource and publishes information on the permit or its equivalent, the ABS Clearing-House automatically generates an internationally recognized certificate of compliance (IRCC).

The IRCC provides evidence a permit or its equivalent was issued and that the user has complied with the provider country's ABS rules and procedures. The IRCC can facilitate users of genetic resources to provide the required information to the checkpoints established along the value chain. The information collected or received by checkpoints is then published on the  ABS Clearing-House in a format called a checkpoint communiqué (CPC). The ABS Clearing-House makes this information publicly available and also sends the checkpoint communiqué, as an email, to alert all those involved in the process, and most importantly the Party providing prior informed consent (the provider country), to inform them of the utilization taking place. These tools have been set up in this way in order to allow for monitoring to be possible even when genetic resources leave the provider country's jurisdiction.

Offers reliable and up-to-date information.

The information available on the ABS Clearing-House follows secure publishing procedures. These procedures ensure that users have access to accurate information on ABS, making the process of access and utilization of genetic resources more fair, transparent and reliable.

Promotes awareness-raising and capacity-building for the Nagoya Protocol.

The ABS community can use the ABS Clearing-House to share experiences in implementing the Nagoya Protocol, capacity-building resources, communication materials and publications on ABS to a wider audience. In this way, the ABS Clearing-House plays an important role in building capacity to implement the Protocol and providing easy access to best practices, lessons learned and materials.

Promotes efficiencies in developing capacity-building projects and materials for the Nagoya Protocol

Countries and organizations can share information on their projects, resources and materials for building capacity for the Nagoya Protocol. Having all available information in a single place can help organizations and countries to learn from other projects, to create synergies both at the design and implementation stage of projects and avoid the duplication of efforts in capacity-building activities and materials.

In accordance with Article 14, paragraph 2 of the Protocol, in line with decision NP 2/2, paragraph 11, Parties are urged to publish all mandatory information available at the national level on the ABS Clearing-House, as soon as possible. They are also urged to ensure that the information published is complete and relevant and kept up-to-date. In addition, Parties are urged to make permits or their equivalents available to the ABS Clearing-House so that they can constitute internationally recognized certificates of compliance. Non-Parties are also encouraged to provide the ABS Clearing-House with relevant information as soon as possible. In order to make national information available on the ABS Clearing-House, countries first need to nominate a publishing authority. Countries that have not yet designated their publishing authority are kindly requested to do so at their earliest convenience. 

Follow the steps below to start publishing national information on the ABS Clearing-House. For any questions or assistance, please contact: absch@cbd.int.

STEP 1: Designate a Publishing Authority 

An essential and important step in order to be able to publish information on the ABS Clearing-House is to first designate a Publishing Authority (PA) for your country. The publishing authority is the single person responsible for approving the publication of national records and ensuring that all information made available is complete, non-confidential, relevant, and up-to-date.

Important things to know about the publishing authority:

• If you are not sure who to designate as the publishing authority, the ABS national focal point can be designated as the publishing authority.
• The publishing authority can be changed easily at any time by the ABS national focal point.
• A publishing authority is necessary in order to publish national records (including the Interim National Report) on the ABS Clearing-House.

Download and complete the PA/NAU Designation form or contact the Secretariat (absch@cbd.int) for help to designate a publishing authority. 

 

STEP 2: Sign in 

Once you have been designated as the publishing authority or a nationally authorized user for your country, if you don't already have a CBD account, you will receive instructions by email on how to setup your CBD Account and password and sign-in to the ABS Clearing-House. Once signed-in, click the "submit" link in the main navigation bar, to access your dashboard where you can view and submit national records for your country.

 

STEP 3: Publish your information 

To ensure that the ABS Clearing-House fulfils its role, Article 14 of the Protocol states Parties to the Protocol are required to make available certain key types of information through the ABS Clearing-House. In addition to this essential information, the Protocol also identifies other useful types of information that are to be made available through the ABS Clearing-House. Non-Parties are encouraged to make information available under the same conditions as Parties. 

Publishing information in the ABSCH should be easy. The CBD Secretariat operates a help desk to provide on-demand technical support, answer questions and receive feedback. The CBD Secretariat can also provide online webinars and face-to-face trainings. Please contact us (absch@cbd.int) for more information.

Other stakeholders, including indigenous people and local communities (IPLCs), capacity-building organizations, private sector and research institutions and international and non-governmental organizations and others are invited to submit relevant reference records. Reference records include a number of ABS relevant resources and information and can be submitted by any registered user of the ABS Clearing-House. The CBD Secretariat, acts as the publishing authority for reference records and is responsible for validating all reference records before final publication in the  ABS Clearing-House. Although, registered users do not publish reference records directly, they must ensure the information they submit is correct, non-confidential, complete and up-to-date.

• Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs): IPLCs can use the ABS Clearing-House to share information on how to access traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, such as community protocols and procedures and customary laws. They can also access and contribute to the ABS Clearing-House with awareness-raising and capacity-building materials on ABS in their own indigenous languages. 
   
• Capacity-building Organizations: Organizations involved in capacity-building for the Nagoya Protocol can share capacity-building resources and materials and information on their projects or activities, including lessons learned from their implementation. In exchange, they are able to access information on projects or resources registered by other actors, and therefore, create opportunities for capitalizing best practices and developing coordinated approaches to building and developing capacity.
• Private sector and research institutions: Private sector and research institutions utilizing or seeking access to genetic resources can also benefit from the  ABS Clearing-House by finding reliable and up-to-date information on how to access genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. They can also use the ABS Clearing-House to share information on the model contractual clauses, codes of conduct, guidelines and best practices that they have developed.
   
• International and non-governmental organizations and others: International and non-governmental organizations and others can raise awareness and promote capacity building on ABS through the ABS Clearing-House. The ABS Clearing-House offers a space to share materials, general literature and learning material related to ABS and the Nagoya Protocol. These resources can contribute to promote ratification and implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, as well as increase opportunities for collaboration among the ABS community.

Follow the steps below to start submitting relevant information to the ABS Clearing-House. For any questions or assistance, please contact: absch@cbd.int.

STEP 1: Sign up for a CBD Account 

A CBD account is needed to be able to submit information on the ABS Clearing-House. If you don't have a CBD account please sign-up here: accounts.cbd.int/signup. After filling the simple form, you will automatically be emailed a link to use to confirm your account. A CBD account enables you to register reference records in the ABS Clearing-House . Click here to create a CBD account.

 

STEP 2: Sign in

Simply click "sign-in" at the top-left of the screen to sign into the ABS Clearing-House . Once signed in, click the "submit" link in the main navigation bar, to access your dashboard where you can choose the type of record you wish to submit.

 

STEP 3: Submit reference records

Submitting information in the ABS Clearing-House should be easy. The CBD Secretariat operates a help desk to provide on-demand technical support, answer questions and receive feedback. The CBD Secretariat can also provide online webinars and face-to-face training. Please contact us (absch@cbd.int) for more information.

One of the most convenient ways to access national information in the ABS Clearing-House is through the country profiles. Each country profile contains all the national information that has been made available by that country and it can provide information on the institutional structures and legislative, administrative or policy measures in place for implementing the Nagoya Protocol. 

The national records, available through a country's profile, contain information that has been validated by the country's publishing authority (PA). The PA is responsible for authorizing the publication of all national records registered in the ABS Clearing-House, ensuring that the information made available in the ABS Clearing-House is complete, relevant and up-to-date; and, ensuring that no confidential information is published in the ABS Clearing-House.

Clicking on "Country Profiles" in the main navigation bar will take you to a map and list of countries. The list of countries includes information on the number of national records each country has made available. This information can be sorted and grouped by party status and/or regions and regional groups in order to help report on the number of Parties and number and type information made available for a certain region. You can click on a country from the list or the map to open the country's profile.

The national records in a country's profile are grouped into sections by their record type. Each section can be expanded by clicking the record type title or adjacent plus (+) sign, to reveal the complete list of records. The country's profile also provides additional information related to ratification, such as, the country’s Party status and dates of ratification and entry into force, when applicable.

The search page is where you will find all available information on the ABS Clearing-House. On the search page, records are organized into three categories (national records, reference records and SCBD records) and displayed in separate tabs. All record categories can be searched simultaneously by using a combination of free-text filters and predefined filters. By default, no filters are set and all records are displayed under each record category tab. The search results can be narrowed down using combinations of filters giving users the flexibility to retrieve a very wide or a very narrow set of results. The filters available are: free text (user entered text), record type, Party status, keywords, countries, regions and groups and the date the record was published.

Each time a filter is selected, the search will be executed and the active filter will appear at the top of search page. Simply click on an active filter to remove it from the search. On the same page, below the filters, you will find the search results. The search results are separated by record category and displayed under separate tabs. This is done to maintain a clear distinction between categories of records with a view to reduce the possibility confusing a national record, submitted by the government, with a reference record, which can be submitted by any registered user. Records are also color-coded to reinforce its record category: 

• Records in blue = national records
• Records in orange = reference records
• Records in grey = CBD Scretariat managed records

The ABS Clearing-House operates based on submissions submitted under common formats. Common formats are standardized forms to facilitate submission of information in a harmonized manner. The ABS Clearing-House common formats make use of controlled vocabulary and metadata in order to facilitate a consistent registering and search of information in the ABS Clearing-House.

The common formats differentiate between mandatory and non-mandatory information. Some fields are mandatory to ensure that the record contains the minimum information necessary for displaying records consistently. The common formats are also designed to be flexible and provide for opportunities to include additional information

Offline common formats are available in MS word format and can be downloaded using the links below:

National records

• National Focal Points (NFP)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh
• Publishing Authority (PA)/ National Authorized users (NAUs)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh  (additional information on how to update or designate PA/NAUs)
• Competent National Authorities (CNA)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh
• Legislative, Administrative or Policy Measures (MSR)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh
• ABS Procedures (PRO)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh
• National Model Contractual Clauses (NMCC)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh
• Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance (IRCC)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh
• National Websites or Databases (NDB)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh
• Checkpoints (CP)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh
• Checkpoint Communiqués (CPC)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh
• Interim National Reports on the Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol (NR)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh
• First National Reports on the Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol (NR)  ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh 
• Contacts (CON)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh

Reference records

• Virtual Library Resources (VLR)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh
• Organizations (ORG)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh
• Capacity development Initiatives (CDI)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh
• Model Contractual Clauses, Codes of Conduct, Guidelines, Best Practices and/or Standards (A19A20)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh
• Community Protocols and Procedures and Customary Laws (CPP)   ar | en | es | fr | ru | zh

The CBD Secretariat organizes webinars, trainings and workshops to build capacity for the use of the ABS Clearing-House. In an effort to maximize effectiveness and efficiency, trainings are be conducted online and remotely (webinars, MS TEAMS) when possible. Face-to-face group training may be integrated into relevant regional or global workshops and events organized by the CBD Secretariat and partner organizations.

If you are interested in an online training on the ABS Clearing-House. please contact the CBD Secretariat (absch@cbd.int) for more information.

The Secretariat has prepared step-by-step guides to provide detailed instructions to assist with using the ABS Clearing-House and publishing records.

Publishing National records

• Competent national authority (CNA)
• Legislative , administrative or policy measures on ABS (MSR)
• ABS procedures (PRO)
• National Model Contractual Clauses (NMCC)
• National websites and databases (NDB)
• Information on ABS permits to constitute an internationally recognized certificate of compliance (IRCC)
• Checkpoints (CP)
• Checkpoint communiqué (CPC)
• Interim national report (NR)

Submitting Reference records

• Virtual library resources (including literature and capacity-building resources)
• Model contractual clauses, codes of conduct, guidelines, best practices and/or standards
• Community protocols and procedures and customary laws 
• Capacity-building initiatives 

Developing a national ABS Clearing-House is not a requirement of the Protocol. However, if a country decides to build a national ABS Clearing-House, please keep in mind:

• The ABS Clearing-House is designed to be interoperable with other databases and systems, in particular Parties’ databases, as well as databases of other instruments and organizations.
• The application programming interface (API), is the main mechanism to implement interoperability,  and is meant to allow the seamless integration of the data and functions of the ABS Clearing-House into other systems in ways that best fit their own needs, workflows and technologies.
• The API can be used to help avoid duplication in the submission of information to the ABS Clearing-House and, at the same time, create national or regional information systems that are fully compatible and streamlined with the ABS Clearing-House and obligation of the Protocol.

The ABS Clearing-House helps make the "ABC's" of ABS a reality

The "ABC's" of ABS:

• Access – Enhancing legal certainty, transparency and clarity on how to access genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.
• Benefit-sharing – Contributing to increase opportunities for sharing benefits from the use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.
• Compliance – Assisting to ensure compliance with ABS measures and transparency in monitoring the utilization of genetic resources through the value chain.

The ABS Clearing-House is established as part of the clearing-house mechanism (CHM) of the Convention. The CHM (http://chm.cbd.int) has been developed as a single and unified platform which also supports the dedicated clearing-houses of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (BCH) and the Nagoya Protocol (ABS-CH). You can access all clearing-houses with the same CBD account that you can get from (http://accounts.cbd.int).

However, each of the clearing-houses has a dedicated portal for searching and registering information in order to respond to the specific needs of the Parties with regards to implementation of the different treaties.

The CHM of the Convention was established in accordance with Article 18(3) of the Convention to promote and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation on all biodiversity issues. The ABS Clearing-House, on the other hand, was established under Article 14 of the Nagoya Protocol with a special focus on the information that must be exchanged under the Protocol. The ABS Clearing-House plays a key role in supporting implementation of the Protocol by contributing to transparency and certainty on procedures for access and monitoring of the utilization of genetic resources. Because of this role, the ABS-CH has some characteristics, features and functions which are specific to this portal.

Another major difference between the CHM and the ABS Clearing-House is that, with regards to the latter, Article 14 of the Protocol enumerates a variety of categories of information which Parties to the Protocol are legally obliged to provide through the ABS Clearing-House. There are no such legal requirements for Parties to the Convention to make information available through the CHM.

Common formats and rules of operation need to be compatible and, where possible, harmonized across the clearing-houses. The common formats developed for the ABS Clearing-House make use, as much as possible, of predefined text or controlled vocabularies that are compatible with the controlled vocabularies of the CHM and the BCH.

The ABS Clearing-House works best with the most recent internet browsers (Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer). Please make sure you have the most recent version of your favourite browser installed on your computer.

Recommended browsers:

• For Firefox: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/
• For Chrome: https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/browser/ei
• For Internet explorer: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/internet-explorer/download-ie

If you experience problems installing a new browser version on your computer, one option could be to try downloading "Chrome Portable" which does not require installation.

Provisions of the Nagoya Protocol work together to create a system to monitor utilization of genetic resources. The goal of this system is to inform and alert the appropriate authorities in both the provider country (country granting access to the genetic resource) and user country (country where the utilization is taking place), on events related to the utilization of genetic resources. The ABS Clearing-House forms part of a feedback loop that allows, in particular, provider countries access to the information related to the utilization of their genetic resources even when utilization happens outside of their jurisdiction. The information made available to the ABS Clearing-House can be used to help assess whether the user is utilizing the genetic resource in compliance with the ABS requirements and domestic regulations of the provider country and can help to ensure the resulting benefits are being duly shared. 

Parties are required to establish certain entities that play an important role to support the system to monitor the utilization of genetic resources set out by the Protocol. To successfully operationalise the monitoring system facilitated by the ABS Clearing-House, each Party must implement the Nagoya Protocol effectively at a national level and make available the required information to the ABS Clearing-House.

The information below provides an overview of the key entities and concepts involved in monitoring genetic resources through ABS Clearing-House: 

Parties: To successfully operationalize the monitoring system facilitated by the ABS Clearing-House, it is important that each Party implement the Nagoya Protocol effectively at a national level and make available the required information to the ABS Clearing-House. 

The ABS Clearing-House: The ABS Clearing-House (ABS-CH) is the main tool setup by the Protocol to share information and facilitate monitoring utilization of genetic resources. Established in Article 14, the ABS Clearing-House is a mechanism to share information relevant to ABS in order to enhance the necessary conditions for ABS to happen, namely: access, benefit-sharing, and compliance. The ABS Clearing-House also transmits information in order to alert the relevant authorities when information related to monitoring the utilization of genetic resources (IRCC and CPC) is made available. 

Users (of genetic resources): Users are responsible for sharing the benefits derived from genetic resources with the providers. They seek access to genetic resources for a wide range of purposes, from basic research to the development of new products. They are a diverse group, including botanical gardens, industry researchers such as pharmaceutical, agriculture and cosmetic industries, collectors and research institutes. To gain access, users must first get permission (known as prior informed consent or PIC) from the provider country and establish an agreement (known as mutually agreed terms or MAT) to share the resulting benefits equitably. 

Utilization/Use of genetic resources: Utilization of genetic resources (defined in Article 2 (c)) whether from plants, animals or micro-organisms, refers to the process of researching their beneficial properties and using them to increase scientific knowledge and understanding, or to develop commercial products. 

Provider Country (country providing prior informed consent): The Party responsible for granting prior informed consent (PIC) and establishing mutually agreed terms (MAT) and issuing a national permit or equivalent to the user for the specific genetic resources is referred to as the provider country. They also are responsible for submitting information on the national permit or equivalent to the ABS Clearing-House in order to constitute an IRCC as evidence that the genetic resources has been accessed with PIC and MAT has been established in accordance with the ABS requirements of the provider country (Article 6, paragraph 3(e)). 

The provider country will receive information (in the form of checkpoint communiqués made available in the ABS-CH) gathered from the user at checkpoints in the country where the genetic resources are being used. The provider country can use the information provided by checkpoint communiqué to locate the original national permit or equivalent. This way the provider can consult the national permit, which may contain confidential information, and compare this information against the information provided in the checkpoint communiqué. In case of any doubt or discrepancy to whether the genetic resource is being used in accordance with prior informed consent (PIC) and the established mutually agreed terms (MAT), the provider can take appropriate measures and contact the user or the country where utilization is taking place in order to cooperate bilaterally on the resolution of any potential issues of misappropriation. 

User Country (country where utilization is taking place): The User Country refers to the country responsible for the jurisdiction in which utilization of a genetic resource is taking place. All Parties are responsible for designating effective checkpoints and ensuring the information provided by users of genetic resources at their checkpoints is made available to the ABS Clearing-House. Designated authorities of the user country can also receive the information coming from their own checkpoints about how genetic resources are being used within their jurisdiction. This allows user countries to establish a channel of communication with provider countries, and if desired, to take steps to verify that users of genetic resources under their jurisdiction are in compliance with ABS measures and to cooperate in cases of alleged violation. 

Checkpoints (CP): Parties are to designate effective checkpoints along the value chain, that are to collect or receive information provided by users related to the utilization of genetic resources as described in Article 17 of the Protocol. The information collected or received by the checkpoints is meant to inform and alert relevant authorities, and above all, authorities in the provider country as to how their genetic resources are being used. The information collected or received at checkpoints is made available as a record on the ABS Clearing-House called a Checkpoint Communiqué (CPC). 

Internationally Recognized Certificate of Compliance (IRCC): Parties requiring prior informed consent (PIC) are to provide for the issuance of a permit or equivalent ( Article 6, paragraph 3(e)), at the time of access, and make this information available to the ABS Clearing-House ( Article 14, paragraph 2(c)). When information on a national permit or equivalent is entered into the ABS Clearing-House and published, it becomes available as an IRCC (Article 17, paragraph 2). An IRCC provides evidence that the user has accessed a genetic resource legally and in accordance with prior informed consent and that mutually agreed terms have been established, as required by the domestic ABS legislation or regulatory requirements of the provider country (country providing prior informed consent) (Article 17, paragraph 3). 

Confidentiality: The ABS Clearing-House does not host confidential information and therefore Publishing Authorities (PA) should take the utmost care to ensure that national records, in particular IRCCs and CPCs, do not contain confidential information. Article 17, paragraph 4, provides that the IRCC shall contain some minimum information when it is not confidential. Technically, in the ABS Clearing-House, the mandatory fields of the IRCC and CPC allow the possibility to avoid entering confidential information (either with checkbox indicating the information for the field is confidential or by the use of a free text field giving the submitter the flexibility to provide information that is not confidential).

STEP 1: Issuing a national permit or its equivalent and constituting the Internationally Recognized Certificate of Compliance (IRCC)

Utilization of genetic resources (defined in Article 2 (c)) whether from plants, animals or micro-organisms, refers to the process of researching their beneficial properties and using them to increase scientific knowledge and understanding, or to develop commercial products. Users of genetic resources from the scientific or business community may seek access for scientific research or product development. To gain access, users must first get permission (known as prior informed consent or PIC) from the provider country. In addition, the provider and the user must negotiate an agreement (known as mutually agreed terms or MAT) to share the resulting benefits equitably. 

The information made available on the ABS Clearing-House can help potential users of genetic resources understand the ABS requirements and institutional arrangements in place in a provider country. The ABS Clearing-House also provides contact information for ABS national focal points. ABS national focal points can help facilitate access and clarify the requirements and procedures in place in their countries in order to access to genetic resources and/or the associated traditional knowledge. 

Competent national authorities (CNA) are bodies established by governments and are responsible for granting users access to their genetic resources, and representing providers on a local or national level. CNAs are responsible for granting prior informed consent (PIC) and establishing mutually agreed terms (MAT), and issuing a national permit or equivalent to the user for the specific genetic resources. Parties are required to submit information on the permits they issue to the ABS Clearing-House in order to constitute an internationally recognized certificate of compliance (IRCC). 

When the information on the permit or its equivalent is published in the ABS Clearing-House, an internationally recognized certificate of compliance (IRCC) is constituted. One of the responsibilities of the publishing authority is to ensure that no confidential information is published when constituting an IRCC on the ABSCH. 

Once published the ABS Clearing-House will email a copy of the IRCC to:

• (a) the national focal point and the competent national authority or authorities of the country responsible for issuing the permit or its equivalent;
• (b) the provider (entity that holds the right to grant access to the genetic resources) of the genetic resource, if this information is not confidential; and
• (c) the person or entity that was granted prior informed consent (the user), when not confidential.

In the process of monitoring the utilization of genetic resources or associated traditional knowledge it can be important when determining whether the genetic resource is being used in accordance with prior informed consent (PIC) and mutually agreed terms (MAT) that the provider country is able to trace each IRCC back to the original permit or equivalent (which may contain confidential information). Each IRCC that is publish is assigned a unique identifier called the UID. The UID can be useful to link the national permit or equivalent to the IRCC. The unique reference or identifier of the national permit or equivalent can also be saved in the IRCC record format.

STEP 2: Utilization of the genetic resources

Monitoring the utilization of genetic resource to ensure benefits are shared and ABS requirements have been met can be difficult, especially when the utilization takes place outside of the provider’s jurisdiction. The ABS Clearing-House supports the implementation of the provisions of the protocol by establishing a feedback loop that provides information on the utilization genetic resources to the relevant entities and authorities. By making information available on the ABSCH related to utilization of genetic resources at checkpoints, authorities in both provider and users countries can be kept up-to-date in a transparent manner on the utilization of genetic resources. 

Parties to the Protocol are required to designate effective checkpoints. Effective checkpoints are located a key places along the value chain where information can be collected or received from users related to the utilization of genetic resources. Some possible examples of checkpoints are the places where a user would need to go to and provide pertinent information when undertaking research and development on a genetic resource, when claiming a right in relation to the innovation made from such research and development, or when commercializing any resultant product. 

When a user encounters a checkpoint they will need to provide certain key information related to prior informed consent (PIC), to the source of the genetic resource, to the establishment of mutually agreed terms (MAT) and/or to the utilization of genetic resources, as appropriate (Article 17, 1(a) (i)) when it is not confidential. The internationally recognized certificate (IRCC) which serves as evidence that the genetic resources which it covers has been accessed in accordance with PIC and that MAT have been established, already contains most of the key information and can help to facilitate the information the user is to provide at a checkpoint. 

The information collected or received at checkpoints is made available as a record on the ABS Clearing-House called a Checkpoint Communiqué (CPC). The CPC, when an IRCC is not provided, require the user at the checkpoint to provide similar key information related to PIC, MAT, the genetic resource, source country, utilization, and the person at the checkpoint. The additional information for the CPC, with the exception of source country, is entered in a free text format which offers the flexibility to provide the necessary information to assist provider countries to monitor the utilization of their genetic resources while allowing for no confidential information to be entered in the ABS Clearing-House.

STEP 3: Receiving the checkpoint communiqué

After publication on the ABS Clearing-House, the checkpoint communiqué (CPC) becomes publicly available, and is automatically sent to the following entities, as appropriate:

• (a) The designated national authority/ies of the user country as determined in the common format on checkpoints;
• (b) The national focal point and the competent national authority/ies of the country providing of the genetic resource; and
• (c) The person or entity that was granted prior informed consent, if this information is not confidential.

Although, each entity receiving the CPC has the option to take steps in order to determine if the utilization taking place is being done in accordance with the original permit (or its equivalent) and domestic ABS requirements of the provider country, the provider country is best placed to assess the information received in the CPC and determine whether access to the genetic resource was properly obtained and being used and in accordance with the mutually agreed terms. When the CPC contains a reference to an IRCC or national permit (or its equivalent) and the information on how the genetic resource is being used, the provider country will be able look up and consult the original national permit (or its equivalent) containing any confidential information and compare this information against the information provided by the CPC and then decide to take appropriate measures or contact the user in case of doubt or discrepancy. 

Even when much of the required information is confidential, it is still valuable to the provider country that the CPC is published. As long as the CPC is published, even when the information is limited or confidential, monitoring the utilization of their genetic resources can still be possible through bilateral communication and cooperation between the authorities in the user and provider countries. Parties are required to cooperate in the resolution of situations related to possible non-compliance to ensure the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources are being shared, in a fair and equitable way, and that the conditions set out in PIC and MAT are met.

For more information please see this video on monitoring genetic resources under the Nagoya Protocol:

Arabic | English | French | Spanish
 

9 February 2023

Notification: 2023-009

Dear Madam/Sir,

The purpose of this notification is to invite Parties to the Nagoya Protocol to nominate an expert for the Informal Advisory Committee to the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House.

The Informal Advisory Committee (IAC) was established by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol (COP-MOP), in decision NP-1/2, paragraph 2, to assist the Executive Secretary with the implementation of the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House (ABS Clearing-House) and to provide technical guidance with respect to the resolution of technical and practical issues arising from the ongoing development of the ABS Clearing-House. The decision provides that the IAC shall be composed of 15 experts, primarily from Parties, selected on the basis of nominations provided by Parties.

The Informal Advisory Committee will hold at least one meeting and informal online discussions, as needed, during this intersessional period 2023-2024 and report on the outcomes of its work to the fifth meeting of COP-MOP in 2024. It is expected that the meeting of the IAC will be held in early 2024; the exact date and venue will be communicated in due time.

Taking into account the growing number of Parties to the Nagoya Protocol, the composition of the IAC will be renewed for this new intersessional period based on nominations from Parties. Accordingly, Parties to the Nagoya Protocol are invited to nominate one expert who should have knowledge of the Nagoya Protocol, access and benefit-sharing and the ABS Clearing-House or related information-sharing and knowledge management systems. 

The nomination should be submitted through an official letter signed by the ABS National Focal Point, together with the completed nomination form attached and the curriculum vitae of the nominee.  In line with decision 14/33, nominees are also required to complete the interest disclosure form.[1]  Nominations should be sent by e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int as soon as possible but no later than 31 March 2023. Based on the nominations received, members of the IAC will be selected on the basis of their expertise and taking into account the need to ensure fair and equitable geographical distribution, as well as gender balance.

Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Elizabeth Maruma Mrema

Executive Secretary

 The text of this notification is also available on the CBD website at: https://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2023/ntf-2023-009-abs-en.docx 

[1]  Available at: https://www.cbd.int/doc/forms/conflict-interest-form-en.pdf 

The ABS Clearing-House (ABSCH) provides various help tools to assist with website navigation and performing various tasks. Below is a list of various help materials available in the ABSCH.

The Knowledge Base  Accessible through the “Help” menu on the top navigation bar,  you will find various categories of helpful information about the ABSCH, such as introductory information about the ABSCH and the Nagoya Protocol, as well as detailed walkthrough on how to perform specific clearing-house tasks. 

Step-by-step guides  The Secretariat has prepared step-by-step guides to provide detailed instructions to assist with using the ABS Clearing-House and publishing records.

Contextual help   Accessible by clicking on the question mark icon located on the top right corner of the website. Contextual help automatically searches the knowledge base to provide you with information related to the page you are currently on. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)  Accessible through the “Help” menu on the top navigation bar.

TOURs These are virtual explanatory tours that walk users through the features and functionality of a specific page. Tours can be especially useful for first-time users.

Tours are available on the following pages:

• Search
• Country profiles
• Submit - dashboard

Chat with our help desk  Click the green question mark icon located neat the bottom right corner of each page. 

The training website Accessible through the “Help” menu on the top navigation bar or at https://training-absch.cbd.int. The training site is a mirror copy of the official ABSCH to help users familiarize themselves with the various functionalities of the clearing-house.

21 July 2023

Notification: 2023-077 

Dear Madam/Sir,

Reference is made to notification 2023-009 ( https://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2023/ntf-2023-009-abs-en.pdf ), issued on 9 February 2023, inviting Parties to the Nagoya Protocol to nominate an expert for the Informal Advisory Committee (IAC) to the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House under the Nagoya Protocol, established by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol (COP-MOP), in decision NP-1/2 ( https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/np-mop-01/np-mop-01-dec-02-en.pdf ). 

I would like to thank Parties who have submitted nominations. However, in view of the limited number of nominations received by the Secretariat from the Africa and Asia-Pacific regions, Parties to the Nagoya Protocol from these regions who have not yet submitted nominations are invited to do so as soon as possible but no later than 1 September 2023. As indicated in the previous notification, the nominee should have knowledge of the Nagoya Protocol, access and benefit-sharing and the ABS Clearing-House or related information-sharing and knowledge management systems. With a view to achieving gender balance, nomination of female experts is encouraged.  Nominations should be sent through an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary, together with the CV, as well as duly completed nomination form (attached) and interest disclosure form ( available at: https://www.cbd.int/doc/forms/conflict-interest-form-en.pdf ) by e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int . 

The members of the IAC will be selected among the nominees based on relevant expertise, taking into account the need to ensure fair and equitable geographical distribution, as well as gender balance.

I thank you for your cooperation and continued support to the Nagoya Protocol.

The text of this notification is also available on the CBD website at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2023/ntf-2023-077-abs-en.docx .

Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

David Cooper

Acting Executive Secretary

ABSCH Training site roles

The accounts below have been created for use on the Training Site of the ABS Clearing-House and the Biosafety Clearing-House. Users may log-in to the accounts below to practice submission of national information either as a Publishing Authority (PA) or as a National Authorized User (NAU).

Please note that any records published or modified on the Training Site will NOT affect the official ABSCH site.  

Please also watch the Video about Training Site created in-house by the Secretariat for the Biosafety Clearing-House, however the site is very similar to the ABSCH and can give you a very good idea of how the ABSCH training site works.

Choose any of the accounts below: