Nagoya Protocol webinar

The Regional Quadripartite (FAO, UNEP, WHO and WOAH) for Asia-Pacific hosted a joint webinar titled, “Nagoya Protocol from One Health Perspective”

The “Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity” (CBD),  also known as the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), is an international agreement that aims to share the benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources fairly and equitably, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies. The Nagoya Protocol is highly relevant from the One Health perspective, as it governs the international sharing of genetic material with relevance to animal health and public health, including epidemic and pandemic diseases, and animal diseases.

The Regional Quadripartite for Asia-Pacific hosted a joint webinar on the Nagoya Protocol, taking the opportunity to leverage the One Health approach using a strong focus on cross-sectoral collaboration. The expertise of the Quadripartite organisations supports Members in the Asia Pacific region, creating awareness among policy and decision-makers across relevant sectors of the Protocol’s implementation, while also recognizing and mitigating possible human, animal and plant health implications, and facilitating best practice examples and engagements to contribute to current global efforts.

The overall aim of the webinar was to provide an overview of the Nagoya Protocol, its interrelationships with other global instruments, and status of its implementation at the national level. Further, the webinar was a platform to discuss opportunities to leverage the One Health approach to promote the development and implementation of ABS measures that are conducive to and do not run counter to the achievement of the objectives of One Health, while complying with the requirements of the CBD and its Nagoya Protocol, as applicable.

Objectives

• Overview of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)
• Sharing sectoral perspectives and experiences on pathogen access and benefit sharing
• Sharing of good practices from Member States