This document is intended to provide guidance on the provisions and implementation of Regulation (EU) No 511/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on compliance measures for users from the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation in the Union (‘the EU ABS Regulation’ or ‘the Regulation’) and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1866 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation (EU) No 511/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the register of collections, monitoring user compliance and best practices (‘the Implementing Regulation’).

The EU ABS Regulation implements in the EU those international rules (contained in the Nagoya Protocol) which govern user compliance — i.e. what users of genetic resources have to do in order to comply with the rules on access and benefit-sharing (ABS) established by the countries providing genetic resources. The Nagoya Protocol also contains rules concerning access measures — but those are not covered by the EU ABS Regulation and accordingly are not addressed in this guidance document.

Certain aspects of the EU ABS Regulation and the Implementing Regulation needed further clarification. The guidance document was developed in cooperation with EU Member States' representatives gathered in the "ABS Expert Group" and it was also subject to feedback from stakeholders gathered in the "ABS Consultation Forum". The guidance document is not legally binding; its sole purpose is to provide information on certain aspects of the relevant EU legislation. It is thus intended to assist citizens, businesses and national authorities in the application of the EU ABS Regulation and the Implementing Regulation.