A nordic approach to access and rights to genetic resources

This report from the Nordic project group on rights and access to genetic resources mandated by the Nordic Genetic Resources Council addresses various aspects related to rights and access to genetic resources in the Nordic countries.

The report examines all genetic resources, whilst pointing out relevant differences between types of resources. The report studies the rights and access to the genetic resources managed by the Nordic Gene Bank.

It also provides recommendations and alternatives for rights and access to genetic resources within the Nordic countries. It gives an overview of needs for and means of implementing the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (IT-PGRFA) and other international agreements in the Nordic countries.

The report further analyses how rights and access to genetic resources relate to international law on intellectual property rights applied to genes and living organisms.