Orders mandating ABS cells in academic and R&D institutions issued

The State government has issued orders mandating the establishment of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) cells in all academic and R&D institutions.

The directive, issued on the recommendation of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB), aligns with national guidelines to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of biological resources and traditional knowledge.

The Biological Diversity (Access to Biological Resources and Knowledge Associated thereto and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits) Regulations, 2025 envisage a comprehensive regulatory framework designed to promote sustainable biodiversity management and ensure compliance with national and international obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing.

The government order also tasks the KSBB with coordinating such efforts, framing guidelines and propagating awareness about the guidelines. The ABS cells will function as dedicated bodies within institutions to oversee, facilitate, and ensure adherence to the provisions of the ABS guidelines.