MM-ABSCH

The Government of Myanmar is implementing the “Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization”. Myanmar ratified the Protocol in 2014, and is a member of the Convention on Biological Diversity, to which the Protocol refers.
Myanmar has a process in place to ensure that the terms of the Nagoya Protocol are followed under the Myanmar Access and Benefits Sharing Law.
For information, please contact the: National Focal Point for ABS, in the Environmental Conservation Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC-ECD), Naypyitaw.

The Nagoya Protocol is implemented through the National Focal Point at the Environmental Conservation Department, and with assistance from the Competent National Authorities located in:

• Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department
• Forest Research Institute
• Department of Fisheries
• University of Forestry and Environmental Science, Yezin
• Department of Traditional Medicine
• Department of Research and Innovation
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Agricultural Research

1. Contact Environmental Conservation Department for information
2. Fill in application form and take to the appropriate Competent National Authority for your project type. Obtain guidelines and know the rules.
3. If approved, negotiate PIC and MAT
4. With the ABS agreement, return to the National Authority to apply for an access permit
5. Follow terms of the agreements

Under the new Access and Benefits Sharing Law, all users of genetic resources, whether foreign or national, must have an ABS agreement for any research on genetic resources, except for the types of research that have been exempted* from the requirement. A list of current ABS agreements in Myanmar are here.

*Note: Foreigners are not exempt from the requirement for an ABS agreement regardless of research type.
National research on taxonomy, forest provenance and progeny trials, and agricultural variety improvement are exempted.