Panama and Mauritius 10th and 11th states to ratify Nagoya Protocol

Montreal, 21 December 2012 – Panama and Mauritius have become the 10th and 11^th countries respectively to ratify the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Panama deposited its instrument of ratification on 12 December 2012; Mauritius acceded to the Protocol on 17 December 2012. They join the following list of countries that have ratified the ground breaking treaty: Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, India, Jordan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mexico, Rwanda and the Seychelles. This makes a total of 11 ratifications and it is envisaged that others will follow suit in the coming months. The Nagoya Protocol will enter into force on the 90th day after the date of deposit of the 50th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

The high number of Parties having signed the Protocol at the closure of signature on 1 February 2012 – a total of 92 –highlights the commitment of countries to the early entry into force and implementation of the Protocol.

“Less than a year after the closure of signature, we already have ratifications from countries representing four of the five United Nations regional groups, including two from megadiverse countries of the world – India and Mexico,” said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

“The world community is on track now for entry into force of the agreement before the Twelfth Conference of the Parties in 2014. In addition, we know that many Parties are in the process of adopting and/or revising their measures on access and benefit-sharing in order to be compliant with the Protocol.”

Mr. Dias further noted that, “This important work is a prelude to further ratifications and  will ensure smooth implementation following entry into force.” At the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Hyderabad, India, in October 2012, it was decided to reconvene the Open-ended Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol (ICNP) for a third meeting to address outstanding issues in its work plan in preparation for the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol.

The Conference of the Parties also highlighted the importance of capacity-building and development initiatives and awareness-raising activities to support the ratification, early entry into force and implementation of the Protocol, and a number of activities are planned for the next biennium.  In Hyderabad, Parties were also invited to initiate and expedite their internal processes for the ratification of the Protocol. It was decided that the ICNP, at its third meeting, would exchange views on the state of implementation of the Protocol.

Countries wishing to have further information on how to become a Party to the Protocol can consult the following website: www.cbd.int/abs/becoming-party/.