University of California Berkeley

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ABS aspects of the Moorea Biocode Project Case
Study - French Polynesia
Sabine Brels R. Gump South Pacific Research
Station, Moorea, French Polynesia
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• Two legal considerations
• ABS
• Protected species
• At three levels
• International - Related conventions
• Local - French Polynesia legislation
• Specific - Biocode Project agreements

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1. ABS Considerations

• International
• CBD France Party - French Polynesia autonomous
  Status, 2004
• French Polynesia (FP)
• Competence to adopt ABS legislation
  (environment in general)
• No ABS legislation for the moment (draft text
  2006 - IRD study)
• Biocode Project
• PIC FP agreements with the Gump station
  foreign researchers
• MAT Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) under
  discussion
• ILCs Partnership with Community Based
  Organization in FP

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2. Protected Species

• International
• CITES (Washington, 1973) Import/export permits
  for listed species
• Specific derogation for accredited scientific
  research institutions
• French Polynesia
• CITES applicable since recently (Ordinance of 5
  June 2008)
• Specific legislation to protect listed local
  species (access, export)
• Biocode Project
• CITES accreditation for the Biocode consortium
  members
• Protected species in FP accessed via ex situ
  collections or permits

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Conclusions

• No ABS legislation implementing CBD in FP nor
  in France
• Access regulated by FP legislation protecting
  local species (permits)
• Benefit sharing Voluntary MOU code of conduct
  referring to CBD
• Obligations to mention origin of FP share
  non-monetary benefits
• 4 principles
• 1- Non commercial use of Biocode material
  (specimens DNA)
• 2- Commercial use if additional binding contract
  signed with FP
• 3- Transfer facilitated between Biocode
  consortium members
• 4- Transfer to bona fide third parties under MOU
  conditions
• FP government ILCs rights respected with
  cooperative agreements
• Why not showing the way without being obliged to
  do so?

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THANK YOU VERY MUCH!