Access to Biological resources and / or associated traditional knowledge for commercial utilization
Access and Benefit Sharing
Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) refers to the way in which genetic resources may be accessed and how the benefits that result from the use of those resources are shared between the commercial users and the local providers/ knowledge holders/benefit claimers.
Plants, animals and microbes all carry genetic materials which are needed for mankind. Our traditional/indigenous communities have an understanding of those resources that has been carried out over generations. The value of this knowledge must be understood and recognised by them who use those for commercial purpose.
ABS is an incentive mechanism in Biodiversity Conservation and its Sustainable Utilisation.
Outcome of ABS:
- Providers of bio-resources and related knowledge are entitled to receive benefits from the commercial users.
- Balances the rights of the users of bio-resources with the rights of the providers of such resources.
- Management of biodiversity as a community asset and support biodiversity-based enterprises in an effective and sustainable manner.
To whom the ABS provisions are applicable?
As per Section 7 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, no person, who is a citizen of India or a body corporate, association or organization which is registered in India, shall obtain any biological resource for commercial utilization, or bio-survey and bio-utilization for commercial utilization except after giving prior intimation to the State Biodiversity Board concerned.
To whom the ABS provisions are not applicable?
The provisions of Section 7 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 shall not apply to the local people and communities of the area, including growers and cultivators of biodiversity, and vaids and hakims, who have been practicing indigenous medicine.
Functions of the Board:
Application may also be submitted online through the following link:
Bio ResourcesThe received applications will be disbursed within 45 working days
Required documents to submit the application:
List of required documents:
Form I:
Form A:
Declaration regarding Sec. 3(2) as per BD Act, 2002:
Related Links
ABS Guidelines issued by Govt. of India:
Normally Traded Commodities (NTC) (vide memo no. S.O. 1352(E) dated 7th April, 2016):
Normally Traded Commodities (NTC) (vide memo no. S.O. 3533(E) dated 7th November, 2017):