Bioprospecting: New Zealand's International Commitments

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(No Transcript)
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BIOPROSPECTING
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BIOPROSPECTING NEW ZEALANDS INTERNATIONAL
COMMITMENTS
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BIOPROSPECTING NEW ZEALANDS INTERNATIONAL
COMMITMENTS
Name Kristy Hall The University of Auckland
Master of Science student
School of Geography and Environmental
Science Email khal029_at_ec.auckland.ac.nz
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1.1 OVERVIEW

• What is Bioprospecting?
• An Issue of Significance to New Zealand
• International Commitments
• Conclusions

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2.1 WHAT IS BIOPROSPECTING?

• Bioprospecting is
• the examination of biological resources
• for features that may be of value for commercial
  development

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2.2 WHAT IS BIOPROSPECTING?

• Historically, bioprospecting has been conducted
  for centuries.
• In the last twenty years bioprospecting has grown
  rapidly, fueled by technological advances in the
  pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agricultural
  sectors.

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2.3 WHAT IS BIOPROSPECTING?

• Today, bioprospecting includes
• The search for new pharmaceuticals
• The search for novel gene sequences or
  characteristics for biotechnology
• The development of new ornamental plants and
  commercial crops

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2.4 WHAT IS BIOPROSPECTING?
Bioprospecting is BIG business! PHARMACEUTICALS
US300 billion AGROCHEMICALS and SEED US60
billion ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE US16-19
billion NATURAL MEDICINES
US10 billion
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3.1 AN ISSUE OF SIGNIFICANCE TO NEW ZEALAND

• New Zealand is a prime target for bioprospecting
• BUT
• At present there are no guidelines or regulations
  governing bioprospecting activities in New
  Zealand

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3.2 AN ISSUE OF SIGNIFICANCE TO NEW ZEALAND

• WHY NEW ZEALAND?
• Unique biodiversity

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3.3 AN ISSUE OF SIGNIFICANCE TO NEW ZEALAND

• WHY NEW ZEALAND?
• Unique biodiversity
• Maori knowledge

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3.4 AN ISSUE OF SIGNIFICANCE TO NEW ZEALAND

• WHY NEW ZEALAND?
• Unique biodiversity
• Maori knowledge
• Solid infrastructure

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4.1 INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS
There are no international agreements which
specifically define or use the term
bioprospecting
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4.1 INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS
There are no international agreements which
specifically define or use the term
bioprospecting But a number do address the
issues surrounding this activity
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4.1 INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS
There are no international agreements which
specifically define or use the term
bioprospecting But a number do address the
issues surrounding this activity Current work on
access and benefit sharing only focuses on
bioprospecting occurring between countries
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4.2 INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS

• At the international level New Zealand
• Is a Member of several international
  organisations developing relevant policy
• Has signed a number of relevant international
  treaties and agreements
• These are either binding or non-binding

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4.3 INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS

• Examples of international organisations to which
  New Zealand is a Member

• Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
• Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)
• International Union for the Protection of Plant
  Varieties (UPOV)
• World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
• World Trade Organisation (WTO)

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4.4 INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS
Examples of binding international treaties to
which New Zealand is a Party

• Convention on Biological Diversity
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered
  Species
• Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
  Rights
• UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

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4.4 INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS
Examples of binding international treaties to
which New Zealand is a Party We are also
also a signatory to a number of non-binding
political declarations eg. Rio Declaration,
Agenda 21, and WSSD Declaration

• Convention on Biological Diversity
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered
  Species
• Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
  Rights
• UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

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5.1 THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
A GROUNDBREAKING TREATY!!!
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5.1 THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

• A GROUNDBREAKING TREATY!!!
• WHY?
• The first international treaty to recognise state
  sovereignty over genetic resources
• First treaty to include access and benefit
  sharing obligations

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5.2 THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

• Drafted following growing concern over the impact
  of humankind on the environment
• Signed at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit
• 178 nations the EU have ratified

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5.3 THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

• OBJECTIVES

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5.3 THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

• OBJECTIVES
• Conservation of biological diversity

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5.3 THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

• OBJECTIVES
• Conservation of biological diversity
• Sustainable use of its components

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5.3 THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

• OBJECTIVES
• Conservation of biological diversity
• Sustainable use of its components
• The fair and equitable sharing of benefits
  arising from the utilisation of genetic resources

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5.4 THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

• Relevance to Bioprospecting Management
• Establishes / reaffirms state sovereignty over
  natural resources
• Requests that Parties facilitate access to
  genetic resources
• Benefit sharing
• Protection of traditional knowledge

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5.5 THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

• BONN GUIDELINES
• Voluntary
• Aim to facilitate and guide policy development
  for access and benefit sharing
• Application should mutually support existing
  international agreements

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5.6 THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

• BONN GUIDELINES Key Recommendations
• Prior informed consent
• Mutually agreed terms for access and benefit
  sharing
• Benefits may be monetary or non-monetary
• Respect for indigenous peoples culture

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6.1 WIPO and TRIPS

• Aim to harmonise Intellectual Property law,
  promote innovation, and ensure that IP is not a
  barrier to international trade
• Some argue that the provisions of WIPO and TRIPS
  conflict with the objectives of the CBD

• Permitting monopoly rights over biodiversity
• Allowing the misappropriation of traditional
  knowledge
• Inhibiting access and benefit sharing regimes

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6.2 WIPO and TRIPS
THIS HAS COME TO BE KNOWN AS
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6.2 WIPO and TRIPS
THIS HAS COME TO BE KNOWN AS BIOPIRACY!!!
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7.1 CONCLUSIONS

• Bioprospectingand arguably biopiracyis already
  occurring in NZ

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7.1 CONCLUSIONS

• Bioprospectingand arguably biopiracyis already
  occurring in NZ
• NZ has a number of international obligations to
  consider

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7.1 CONCLUSIONS

• Bioprospectingand arguably biopiracyis already
  occurring in NZ
• NZ has a number of international obligations to
  consider
• Other countries are already taking action

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7.1 CONCLUSIONS

• Bioprospectingand arguably biopiracyis already
  occurring in NZ
• NZ has a number of international obligations to
  consider
• Other countries are already taking action
• If we do not consider this issue, we may miss out
  on benefits and opportunities

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Name Kristy Hall The University of Auckland
Master of Science student
School of Geography and Environmental
Science Email khal029_at_ec.auckland.ac.nz
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Acknowledgements Many thanks to Kristina Ryan,
MFAT Caron Mounsey-Smith, MED Dr Mere Roberts,
University of Auckland Dr Basil Sharp,
University of Auckland Also thank you to Dave
Pattemore, Masters student, University of
Auckland, for the fabulous photograph of Codfish
Island
Name Kristy Hall The University of Auckland
Master of Science student
School of Geography and Environmental
Science Email khal029_at_ec.auckland.ac.nz