Brazil launches system for accessing genetic heritage
The National System for the Management of Genetic Heritage (SisGen) has been officially launched in Brazil.
The new system aims to simplify and accelerate the procedure for accessing genetic heritage and associated traditional knowledge.
According to a statement from Licks Attorneys last week, the system was set forth in article 5 of Decree #8.772/2015. This was issued to implement a law regulating access to genetic heritage as well as protection of, and access to, associated traditional knowledge.
SisGen also covers the fair and equitable sharing of benefits for the conservation and sustainable use of Brazilian biodiversity.
Among other things, the system allows users to register to send abroad a sample containing genetic heritage and register the shipments of genetic heritage samples.
An article written by Luiz Leonardos & Advogados for the LSIPR Conference Special 2016 issue stated that according to the new law, “registration in the SisGen database should be performed before the delivery of, or request for, any intellectual property right, or the notification of the finished product or reproducing material developed as a result of the access”.
The Genetic Heritage Management Council was responsible for implementing the access to genetic resources law.
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