The Access to Biological Resources and Benefit Sharing Act 2017 (‘the Act’) came into operation on
18 December 2020.
The Act, among others, seeks to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity to which Malaysia has been a signatory since 1992 and the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from their Utilisation, regulate the use of biological resources, curb biopiracy and ensure that benefits are shared equitably. To read our article,
Guardians of the (Bio-Resources) Galaxy, that provides a summary of the main features of the Act, please click
here.
The Access to Biological Resources and Benefit Sharing Regulations 2020 (‘the Regulations’) were gazetted on 17 December 2020 and came into operation on
18 December 2020.
In summary the Regulations, among others, provide for the following: