What is happening in Canada with regards to Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-sharing?
Currently, there are no specific ABS policies in Canada at the federal, provincial and territorial levels. Yet “bioprospecting” is taking place in all Canadian regions. Some laws and regulations in different jurisdictions cover some elements of ABS – e.g., permitting for the collection of genetic resources in National Parks – but no common framework exists. In September 2004, the Federal/Provincial/Territorial (F/P/T) Ministers responsible for Forests, Wildlife, Endangered Species and Fisheries and Aquaculture recognized the need for the stewardship of Canadian genetic resources. They created the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing (FPTWGABS) and mandated it to advance the policy discussions on this complex and emerging issue. The FPTWGABS is co-chaired by Environment Canada and British Columbia. One of the key deliverables that the FPTWGABS was instructed to produce was a policy paper on ABS. The document entitled ABS Policies in Canada: Scoping
