In connection with the adoption of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Genetic Resources Management” of March 5, 2024, No. 356-3, which defines the sovereign rights of the Republic of Belarus to its own genetic resources, the Head of the National Coordination Centre on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-Sharing (ABS NCC), Ms. Elena Makeyeva, raised awareness of the scientists and tutors of the Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Department of the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy, Gorki, Mogilev Region, of the legal regulation of access of foreign stakeholders to the genetic resources of our country and their utilization.

She explained the provisions of the new Law of the Republic of Belarus, which establishes administrative procedures for obtaining an access permit for genetic resources, the terms of their utilization and sharing of derived benefits, as well as liability for a violation of established requirements, in detail. The Law was developed in furtherance of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from Their Utilization to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and will come into force on March 6, 2025.