Genetic Resources Institute representing Bosnia and Herzegovina at a conference in Rome

Prof. Gordana Djurić, director of Genetic Resources Institute of the University of Banja Luka and Mirela Kajkut Zeljković, MA, researcher – senior associate at the Institute, were representing Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 17th Regular Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation held in Rome from February 18 to 22, 2019.

“The Session focused on the role and significance of genetic resources for food and agriculture, the state of global food and agriculture biodiversity, the access and even distribution of profits arising from the use of genetic resources for food and agriculture”, announced the Genetic Resources Institute of the University of Banja Luka

As announced, participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the work of the Commission has a multifaceted significance, especially when it comes to presenting previous activities in this field and positioning the country in the working bodies of the Commission.

Through work of the Commission, it is possible to monitor international obligations that need to be accepted and harmonized both with the entity legal frameworks and at the state level in this area.

According to the conclusion of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska and the work plan for 2019, it is planned to draft the Law on Genetic Resources of the Republic of Srpska that will define the obligations related to the protection, management, access and sustainable use of genetic resources in the Republic of Srpska.

"After the implementation of the First Action Plan for the Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources (adopted in 2008), this law represents the final regulation of this area in the Republic of Srpska and harmonization with the European legislation, hence harmonization with the Regulation of the European Parliament and Council of the European Union on coordinating measures for users of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources. Furthermore, it represents fair and equitable sharing of profits arising from the use of genetic resources in the EU, as well as international obligations undertaken by Bosnia and Herzegovina under the Convention on Biological diversity'', announced at the Institute.

The Genetic Resources Institute of the UBL requested a consent from the authorities for the Bosnia and Herzegovina to join International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources, because Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only European country that is not a member or a signatory of this Treaty.

The Institute is also drafting the reasoning and methods of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s admission to the Nagoya Protocol.

"All of this will enable the Republic of Srpska, and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole, to regulate the condition of the decline of conservation, access and sustainable use of genetic resources, and to establish measures (monetary and non-monetary) for the use of this natural treasure," said the Genetic Resources Institute of the University of Banja Luka.
 
Useful links: 
1.    Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of the United Nations -   http://www.fao.org/cgrfa/meetings/detail/en/c/1153541/   
2.    Regulation (EU) No 511/2014 of the European Parliament on compliance measures for users from the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization in the Union Text with EEA relevance - https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32014R0511
3.    Convention on Biological diversity - http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/international/abs/index_en.htm
4.    International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture - http://www.fao.org/plant-treaty/en/
5.    The Nagoya Protocol - https://www.cbd.int/abs/about/