India has become the top global issuer of Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) under the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS), accounting for over 56% of all certificates issued worldwide. The country has issued 3,561 IRCCs out of a total of 6,311, as per the latest data on the ABS Clearing-House. This places India significantly ahead of other nations in implementing the protocol.
Out of 142 countries listed on the ABS Clearing-House, only 34 have issued IRCCs to date. Following India, France holds the second position with 964 certificates, trailed by Spain (320), Argentina (257), Panama (156), and Kenya (144). India’s commitment to the fair and transparent use of biological resources and associated knowledge is reinforced by this achievement.
The Nagoya Protocol, established in 2010, mandates countries allowing commercial access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge to issue IRCCs. These certificates serve as formal proof of obtaining Prior Informed Consent and establishing Mutually Agreed Terms between resource users and providers. The information is then uploaded to the ABS Clearing-House.
“I RCCs are vital in monitoring the utilization of genetic resources, from research and innovation to commercial applications, ensuring fair benefit-sharing with the provider country,” stated the official. India’s leading role reflects the effective implementation of its ABS framework under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, overseen by the National Biodiversity Authority at the central level, State Biodiversity Boards/Union territory Biodiversity Councils at the state level, and Biodiversity Management Committees at the local level.
Streamlined processes and robust institutional mechanisms have facilitated the efficient handling of applications, ensuring compliance with international obligations. This accomplishment underscores India’s proactive engagement in global biodiversity governance and its ongoing endeavors to promote equitable benefit-sharing from biological resource utilization, as highlighted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
“It also aligns with international objectives on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, bolstering India’s role as a significant contributor to global environmental agreements,” the statement emphasized.
