BRIEFING NOTE FOR 26 AUGUST 2000

Third Intersessional Meeting of the Contact Group of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food &  Agriculture

Briefing note for Saturday, 26 August 2000

On the opening day of the meeting, Ambassador Fernando Gerbasi (Venezuela), Chair of the Contact Group, welcomed participants and opened the Third Inter-sessional Contact Group Meeting on the Revision of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, in Harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity (IU) at 10:15 am in the Iranian Centre for International Conferences. Participants heard opening remarks from a representative of the FAO and the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Regional groups then presented their proposals for a list of crops to be considered under Article 12 (Coverage of the Multilateral System). The proposals ranged from a small number of crops to over 275. The lists will be compiled and distributed for further discussion.

Delegates then discussed their views regarding provisions with Article 14 (Benefit-sharing in the Multilateral System) regarding commercial benefit-sharing, which continued through the afternoon session. Significant debate arose over proposals for contributions by Parties based on the value of crop production and on a graduated scale according to the UN Scale of Assessment. Delegates also discussed proposals for private sector involvement in partnerships for research and development, as well as for royalty payments on crops within the multilateral system that had been modified and patented or otherwise restricted in access. The session briefly addressed Article 13 (Facilitated Access to Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture within the Multilateral System). Delegates met for an evening tea party at the Azadi Grand Hotel.

-----------------------------------------------

This briefing note was provided by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, publishers of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin © enb@iisd.org. It was written and edited by Stas Burgiel <stas@iisd.org> and Tonya Barnes <tonya@iisd.org>. Website design/editing for this meeting by Chris Spence <chris@iisd.org>.The Editor is Pamela Chasek, Ph.D. <pam@iisd.org> and the Managing Editor is Langston James "Kimo" Goree <kimo@iisd.org>. IISD can be contacted by e-mail at <info@iisd.ca> and at 161 Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y4, Canada. The opinions expressed in this briefing note are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and other funders. Excerpts from this briefing note may be used in non-commercial publications only and only with appropriate academic citation. For permission to use this material in commercial publications, contact the Managing Editor.