Elements of an international regime for the recognition of national regulations on access to genetic resources

This paper aims to assist the international community in its efforts to curb the misappropriation of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge through IPRs. It outlines how an international legal regime may assist the enforcement of decisions made under national access and benefit-sharing regulations by providing for the recognition of such decisions in foreign jurisdictions. In addition to offering some useful background on the complex legal issues involved, the paper outlines some of the elements that could constitute such a legal regime, and examines the different options for implementing it at the international level.