Progress on the Development of a Domestic regime for
Access and Benefits Sharing of Genetic Resources
NZBIO/MED/MFAT Information Sessions for NZBIO Members, and open afternoon
Thursday 18th February
at MED Auckland Office: GUEDO, Level 6, The Tower Centre, 45 Queen Street, Auckland
10.00am - 12.30pm: Meeting for NZBIO Members, followed by
2.00 - 4.00pm: Meeting open to other interested parties
MED, together with MFAT, will be hosting 3x closed meetings to NZBIO Members, to give members the opportunity to input into the development of domestic bioprospecting policy, and to help government grow our understanding of the scale and value of bioprospecting activities.
The second half of each meeting day will be opened up to other interested parties to attend, and MFAT will be presenting on the progress of the current negotiations for an international ABS regime, and possible implications for NZ users, as well as seeking input in what NZ users of GR might want in an international regime. (ABS = ‘Access and Benefit Sharing’, of the international phrase for bioprospecting/biodiscovery).
The first meeting is confirmed for the 18th February in Auckland.
- MED will give a presentation on domestic policy progress; MED will also be asking participants about their level of bioprospecting activity, as part of a ‘stocktake’ of the scale of bioprospecting activity and value in NZ.
- The closed morning session will be followed by an open afternoon session, from 2 to 4pm 18 Feb for interested parties/stakeholders to hear from MFAT as to NZ’s approach to the negotiations, and to ask questions of MFAT and the ABS co-Chairs about the international regime and implications for NZ stakeholders. This will be at the same venue.