Access and benefit-sharing regime in Argentina: Experiences and perspectives

SILVESTRI, LUCIANA

Global Transformations in the Use of Biodiversity for Research and Development Post Nagoya Protocol Implementation Amid Unresolved and Arising Issues

Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Año: 2022; p. 49 - 68

Argentina, a rich biodiversity country, has shown interest in regulating access to its genetic resources and in the distribution of benefits arising from their utilization, a regime internationally known as ABS (Access and Benefit-Sharing). Nevertheless, until recently, the country had not advanced steadily or strategically in the matter. The main cause of this setback was the absence of a national regulation setting the minimum standards on the issue. On the other hand, provinces, which are competent to grant access to the genetic resources found within their jurisdictions, have enacted regulation that greatly differs from the other in every possible aspect. As a result, access to genetic resources in Argentina has become a challenging effort. Newly adopted Decision No. 410 of 2019 of the Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development, which sets minimum common standards on ABS at the national level, has the capacity to change history. However, it success and effects in reality are yet to be seen. This chapter describes how ABS has been regulated in Argentina so far. It focuses on an evaluation of the strengths and challenges the system presents. Lastly, the paper speculates on the possible effects the recently adopted regulation could have in the access to genetic resources.