Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Genetic Resources Debate Extended

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 19 2008 (IPS) - Brazil's Environment Ministry decided for a second time to extend the period for public consultation on a bill about access to genetic resources, traditional knowledge and the distribution of related benefits. The extension of the deadline to July 13 came in response to demands from indigenous and traditional communities that would be on the receiving end of those benefits.

“Not only did we move the deadline, we changed the consultation process,” said María Celeste Emerick, coordinator of the ministry's Genetic Heritage Management Council. Until now, all communication took place over the Internet, limiting the participation of poor and isolated communities, some of which do not have electricity.

“The government realized that the interested groups were being excluded,” Emerick told Tierramérica.

The regulation of genetic resources will be discussed at seven meetings in five regions of Brazil and a final meeting in the capital, Brasilia.