GCC plant genetic material rules take rootin Parliament

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Rules to regulate the exchange and ownership of plant genetic materials across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are moving closer to becoming law, with Bahrain’s Parliament now reviewing the draft framework.

The proposal would align Bahrain with a GCC agreement adopted in December 2022 and has been referred to the Public Utilities and Environment Committee for study, with input from the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee.

Under the draft, licences would be required for any work involving plant genetic materials or their by-products, while import or export would need prior government approval. Travellers carrying such materials must declare them, present valid documents, and comply with plant quarantine regulations.

A designated government authority would enforce the rules, supported by a national committee on plant genetic resources. Fees for licensing and related services would be set with government approval.

The framework also lays out how benefits from the use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge are to be shared, recognises farmers’ rights to participate in decision-making, and covers materials both in the wild and under cultivation.

Individuals would have 30 days to appeal official decisions, with the option to go to court if the appeal is denied or ignored. Violations—such as unlicensed handling or cross-border movement—could bring up to one month in jail or fines up to BD1,000, with courts empowered to seize or destroy materials obtained unlawfully.