More about the ABS Focal Point
The National Focal Point (NFP) on Access and Benefit-Sharing provides information on legislation, rules and procedures applying to accessing genetic resources.
One of the obligations of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is to appoint a focal point to facilitate ABS regarding the national genetic resources, and to provide information to potential users and suppliers. This website is one of the instruments of the Dutch National Focal Point to achieve its objectives of contributing to the implementation of the CBD and promoting trust-building and transparency in order to facilitate the exchange of genetic resources.
Next to the NFP, a Competent National Authority (CNA) has been appointed. The CNA of a country is responsible for granting access, and advising on applicable procedures and requirements for obtaining Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and entering into Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT). There might be more than a single CNA in a country, e.g. for different purposes or in the case of federal states.