Brazil adopts new rules on biodiversity based R&D for cosmetics, food and pharmaceuticals

26 May 2015


Brazil adopts new rules on biodiversity based R&D for cosmetics, food and pharmaceuticals

On 20 May, Brazil adopted a new legal framework for biodiversity-based research, development and commercialization. The new rules involve a fundamental shift in how companies can access genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge in Brazil, as well as how resulting benefits are shared.

Brazil holds one of the richest biodiversities in the world. It has long been a source of innovation and inspiration for natural ingredients used in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. Yet much remains to be explored: many companies have R&D centers in Brazil that are actively looking to discover new ingredients and applications for its flora. Moreover, Brazil is also quickly becoming a key market for natural products, with a population of over 200 million and a soaring awareness of biodiversity.

Law 7.735/2014, signed by President Dilma Rousseff at an official ceremony on 20 May, establishes the procedures that companies and other organizations will need to follow to work with Brazilian biodiversity. The new law repeals a 2001 measure on access and benefit sharing, widely criticized as too complex and bureaucratic. For example, authorization to access biodiversity for research and development, until now granted by a national council, will not longer be required. Companies now only have to register on an online database. Benefit sharing, previously negotiated for each individual case, will now fall on the final product manufacturer, and take place primarily through a national trust fund.

President Rousseff described the new law as balancing legal certainty with fair and equitable benefit sharing. It will guarantee, she said, that companies can "without conflict, troubles or disputes" use the genetic heritage and associated traditional knowledge in Brazil. Nevertheless, the law has also been criticized by indigenous peoples and local communities for not sufficiently protecting their rights and interests.

The new legal framework in Brazil will have significant implications for suppliers, laboratories, manufacturers and brands working with Brazilian biodiversity. These implications will be one of the topics addressed during the "Beauty of Sourcing" conference, which brings together companies, experts and government representatives to discuss biodiversity . The "Beauty of Sourcing" conference, organized by the Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT), will take place in Paris on 25 June.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Union for Ethical BioTrade
www.uebt.org
Maria Julia Oliva
Email: julia@uebt.org
Telephone: +31 6 5437 4017



Privacy Policy
We have updated our privacy policy. In the latest update it explains what cookies are and how we use them on our site. To learn more about cookies and their benefits, please view our privacy policy. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies. By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy unless you have disabled them.