Nagoya Protocol
What is the protocol?
The Nagoya Protocol enables the equitable sharing of genetic material, including associated traditional knowledge, and the benefits that arise from their use, whilst maintaining the origin countries' rights over the resources that exist within its borders.
The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation is an international framework that governs access to genetic materials, protecting the interests of all contractual parties involved in their use, and ensuring fair sharing of the benefits. It was established on 29 October 2010 in Japan and came into force in the UK in October 2014 after being ratified by the EU and has been agreed by 172 countries across the world.
The Nagoya Protocol covers any non-human genetic resources from animal, plant or microbes as well as addressing the traditional knowledge of genetic resources held by indigenous or local communities.
For more information or any guidance, please contact researchcompliance@hull.ac.uk
Law and Regulations
All researchers in the UK are legally obliged to comply with the Nagoya Protocol under the EU Directive 511/2014 and The Nagoya Protocol Regulations 2015 under UK Law. The requirements are further reinforced by the BBSRC Guidance on Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice.
Failure to comply with this legislation could result in criminal and/or civil sanctions for the individual and the institution ranging from compliance notices to imprisonment; monetary penalties of up to £250,000 could be imposed.
The regulator in the UK is the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPPS), appointed by DEFRA. OPPS are responsible for compliance with the Protocol and can carry out inspections, in which all researchers are required to comply with any audit requests.
It is the responsibility of the individual researcher accessing the resource to ensure that they and all members of their research team comply with the Protocol.
Key contacts
Research Compliance: researchcompliance@hull.ac.uk
Research Contracts Team: RKEContracts@hull.ac.uk
Enforcement Team at Office for Product Safety and Standards: OPPS.enquiries@beis.gov.uk
Resources
Access and Benefit Sharing Clearing House
Convention of Biological Diversity: Nagoya Protocol
DEFRA Nagoya Protocol Process Guide