Cbd third National Report Armenia (English version)

Article 15 - Access to genetic resources

◊ Has your country endeavored to facilitate access to genetic resources for environmentally sound uses by other Parties, on the basis of prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms, in accordance with paragraphs 2, 4 and 5 of Article 15?
No	X
Yes (please provide details below)
Further information on the efforts taken by your country to facilitate access to genetic resources for environmentally sound uses by other Parties, on the basis of prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms.
Currently access to genetic resources became rather easy. Only the species recorded in the Red Book of Armenia have limited access. Legislative basis for regulation of this sphere does not exist in Armenia, so there are no clear mechanisms for access to genetic resources based on preliminary justified agreements and agree conditions. Armenia is not a signatory of the Convention on Plant Genetic Resources, which envisaged unlimited access to agricultural crops listed in Appendix 1. Further involvement of the country in the joint regional project and activities implemented by international organizations envisages free access to genetic resources and information on them among the participating countries.

◊ Has your country taken measures to ensure that any scientific research based on genetic resources provided by other Parties is developed and carried out with the full participation of such Parties, in accordance with Article 15(6)?
No	X
No, but potential measures are under review
Yes, some measures are in place (please provide details below)
Yes, comprehensive measures are in place (please provide details below)
Further information on the measures to ensure that any scientific research based on genetic resources provided by other Contracting Parties is developed and carried out with the full participation of such Contracting Parties.
Works with the international organization providing samples for sort testing purposes has been done through contracts on material transfer, where the conditions of the parties’ participation are addressed in details. For the further information on the genetic material transfer for scientific research refer to the Targets 10.1 and 10.2.

◊ Has your country taken measures to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of the results of research and development and of the benefits arising from the commercial and other use of genetic resources with any Contracting Party providing such resources, in accordance with Article 15(7)?
No
No, but potential measures are under review	X
Yes, some measures are in place (please provide details below)
Yes, comprehensive legislation is in place (please provide details below)
Yes, comprehensive statutory policy or subsidiary legislation are in place (please provide details below)
Yes, comprehensive policy and administrative measures are in place (please provide details below)
Further information on the type of measures taken.
The mentioned conditions are discussed in details during the implementation of joint scientific projects. Those discussions are resulted, as a rule, at equitable sharing of genetic resources between national collections, free presentation of the primary assessment of the material collected during joint scientific expeditions, joint publications, etc (refer to the Targets 10.1 and 10.2).

◊ In developing national measures to address access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing, has your country taken into account the multilateral system of access and benefit-sharing set out in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture?
No	X
Yes (please provide details below)
Further information on national measures taken which consider the multilateral system of access and benefit-sharing as set out in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
In the framework of “Assessment of Priority Capacity Needs for Biodiversity Conservation and Establishment of CHM Structures” project (2002) the “Strategy for access to genetic resources and equitable benefit sharing” has been developed. It contains provision on the necessity of application of a comprehensive system for access to genetic recourses and use of the benefits, defined by the Convention on Plant Genetic Resources. The mentioned Strategy has been endorsed by the Ministry of Nature Protection for presentation to the general public for discussions and review. Taking into consideration the list of the agricultural crops included into the Appendix 1 of the Convention on Plant Genetic Resources, activities on unlimited access to mentioned resources can be implemented in Armenia only after signing the Convention.