Protected Areas

compliance ranging from formal warningsto fines that vary according to theseriousness of the illicit act.B) National AuthorityThe CGEN was established in April of2002 and has met 56 times for thepurpose of considering regulations thatcomplement existing legislation andauthorizations for access to and shipmentof genetic resources and associatedtraditional knowledge.Thematic working groups have beenestablished to assist the work of theCouncil. These consider issues thatneed to be regulated and submitdraft resolutions, decisions, technicalguidelines and other instruments thatpromote application of the legislation forconsideration by the CGEN.During its six years of work, the CGENhas approved over 200 decisions, 29resolutions, 5 technical notes and otherguidelines, as well as the submissionof draft legislation to the Office of thePresident for the purpose of improvingexisting legislation.In order to broaden the debate on thesharing of benefits when the associatedtraditional knowledge is held by morethan one local community, in 2006 theCGEN launched a public consultationwhich lasted over a year and involved allsectors of society.• Results AttainedThe current number of authorizationsfor bioprospection and/or technologicaldevelopment that have been granted bythe CGEN has greatly increased. Thisfact demonstrates the increasing levelof legislation implementation. Due to anew norm to facilitate non-profit scientificresearch, CGEN Resolution 21 waspublished in 2006. This resolution takesthis type of research away from the scopeof national legislation, and thus decreasesthe number of authorizations granted forthe purpose of Scientific Research.Bioprospecting and technological DevelopmentScientific ResearchTrustee Institutions – 90 national publicinstitutions that have ex. situ scientificcollections are accredited to receivegenetic resource samples -- a nationallegislation requirement.New National LegislationWith the objective of improving thecurrent system, a new bill of law onAccess and Sharing of Benefits hasalready been elaborated by the FederalGovernment to be sent to the NationalCongress in 2008. In order for all actorsinvolved to participate in the process, thetext is available for public consultationuntil July of 2008.59