The Best Practice Guidelines for the Collection and Transfer of Genetic Resources are a comprehensive framework designed to guide ethical and scientifically sound practices in the management of genetic resources.
Australian law in relation to the collection, transfer, and use of genetic resources is fragmented and incomplete. This creates problems for researchers, access providers, and Indigenous Australians. The Guidelines help to overcome these problems and develop a common standard across Australia that reflects best practice. The guidelines aim to address legal complexities by providing recommendations for researchers and access providers involved in the collection, transfer, and use of genetic materials.
The guidelines, which include information on Commonwealth, State and Territory-specific laws, serve as a resource for a wide range of sectors, including academic institutions, scientific research organisations, conservation bodies, and the biotechnology industry.
As genetic resources play an increasingly critical role in agriculture, conservation, and scientific research, it’s vital that we have clear, practical, and responsible guidelines to ensure best practice.
The Guidelines go beyond existing laws and procedures to adopt and apply a uniform and consistent approach across Australia that:
- Recognises the interests of access providers;
- Facilitates the access, use, and transfer of genetic resources;
- Recognises Indigenous Australians’ historical and ongoing stewardship of genetic resources;
- Ensures compliance with international, national, and local laws and regulations;
- Minimises the administrative and legal burdens of access and benefit sharing measures; and
- Creates a predictable environment for the collection, use, and transfer of genetic resources.
These Guidelines apply when:
- You collect genetic resources;
- Someone collects genetic resources on your behalf;
- You receive genetic resources from someone else (an intermediary); or
- You transfer genetic resources to a third party.
The guidelines align with international agreements, such as the Nagoya Protocol, which aims to share benefits arising from the use of genetic resources equitably. They are available for download from the Plant Success website and were developed in collaboration with the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology.
