The First National Report of the Republic of Belarus on the Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol has been provided on the ABS Clearing House at https://absch.cbd.int/. The report is also available on the official website of the National Coordination Centre on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-sharing at the following link.

The report reflects the formation of a national system regulating access to genetic resources (GRs) and associated traditional knowledge (TK) and the sharing of benefits arising from their utilization in Belarus.

Key results:

• ● A legal GRs and associated TK access and benefit-sharing framework has been developed:
  A key step was the adoption of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Genetic Resources Management” of March 5, 2024, No. 356-З, regulating the following spheres:
  • Genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge access procedure;
  • Obtaining prior informed consent (PIC);
  • Establishing mutually agreed terms (MAT) between the providers and users of genetic resources and/or associated traditional knowledge;
  • Sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources and/or associated traditional knowledge utilization.
• ● National authorities responsible for Nagoya Protocol implementation have been identified:
  The Competent National Authority (CNA) is the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, and the functions of the national coordination centre have been vested in the National Coordination Centre on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-sharing established in 2014.
• ● Twenty-three Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance (IRCC) have been generated:
  During the reporting period, Belarus generated twenty-three Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance providing information on the transfer of genetic resources to other countries for scientific research. The utilization of genetic resources resulted in joint research, exchange of scientific information and publications, thus contributing to the development of international scientific cooperation.
• ● Awareness-raising activities have been implemented:
  In the framework of the Nagoya Protocol implementation, approximately 120 training events attended by approximately 2,500 specialists have been held in the country.

Publication of The First National Report confirms that Belarus fulfills international commitments under the Nagoya Protocol and that the national system, regulating access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge and benefit-sharing, has been developed.