Genetic resources, Nagoya Protocol
On these pages you will find information about the Nagoya Protocol and guidance on the application of the EU ABS Regulation. We go through rules for the use of genetic resources and/or traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources in research and product development.
The purpose of the guidance is to help users of genetic resources and traditional knowledge to comply with the EU ABS Regulation and to provide an insight into the supervision of their use. The purpose of the regulatory framework is to ensure that the country where genetic resources and traditional knowledge are collected receives its fair share of benefits and profits from their use. This is the third objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity and supports the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Target Group
Those who conduct research and/or product development and use genetic resources and/or traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, those who grant research funding, universities, authorities and collection holders of biological material and companies in various industries.
Good to know
In Sweden it is the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency that controls the use of genetic resources and guides the users in accordance with the EU ABS Regulation.
Legislation
EU and konventions
Swedish laws
Guidance
About the Nagoya Protocol and the EU ABS Regulation
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) aims to both conserve and sustainably use biological diversity, as well as achieve a fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the utilisation of genetic resources. The 2010 Conference of the Parties to the Convention adopted the Nagoya Protocol – an international agreement regulating access to and equitable and fair benefit-sharing arising from the utilisation of genetic resources and/or traditional knowledge associated with such resources.
All countries, including those that are not parties to the Nagoya Protocol, can enact legislation regulating access to genetic resources and indigenous traditional knowledge. The countries that are parties to the Nagoya Protocol also have the authorization of the Protocol to do that, even though issuing access legislation is voluntary for the parties. According to such legislation for example, the access may only be granted if there is an agreement that both the provider country and the user benefit from the use of the resource or knowledge.
Within the EU, the Nagoya Protocol is implemented in Regulation (EU) No 511/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council – "on measures for compliance by users with the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization in the Union" – also known as the EU ABS Regulation. The regulation entered into force in October 2014.
The rules of the EU ABS Regulation apply to both commercial and non-commercial researchers, basic and applied research, as well as those engaged in product development. It is your responsibility as potential user of genetic resources and traditional knowledge to determine whether the regulation applies to your work and to follow what it requires of you.
Other frameworks regulating the benefit sharing from genetic resources and traditional knowledge
The Nagoya Protocol is one of several international instruments that in one way or another regulate benefit-sharing from the use of genetic resources, biological material, and traditional knowledge.
Sometimes such treaties may overlap with the Nagoya Protocol, but this has been solved by drawing up provisions on the demarcation. This is the case, for example, with the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) framework and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).
The Nagoya Protocol applies only within the national jurisdiction of the Parties, while some treaties apply only outside national jurisdiction, such as the Antarctic Treaty or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The agreements may also apply in parallel with the Nagoya Protocol, such as the Arctic Science Agreement. These treaties have been implemented in Sweden in other legislation and the user must therefore find out which regulations apply to the material that he or she wants to use.
The term ABS (Access and Benefit-Sharing) can also be used within other regulatory frameworks concerning access to and benefit-sharing from the use of biological material or genetic resources, but most often it relates to the Nagoya Protocol and the legislation with which it is implemented in each country.
Key concepts
Here you can read more about important concepts and definitions linked to the Nagoya Protocol and the EU ABS Regulation.
What is meant by genetic resources and genetic material?
Genetic resources can be plants, animals, fungi, viruses, and bacteria – or parts of them, such as seeds, spores, sperm.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the EU ABS Regulation define genetic resources as "genetic material of actual or potential value" and genetic material as "any material of plant, animal, microbial or other origin, containing functional units of heredity".
Derivatives such as RNA, proteins, enzymes, lipids and organic compounds such as flavonoids, essential oils or plant resins may also be genetic resources, even though they no longer contain any functional units of genetic material. This follows from the fact that the definition of 'use' in the Convention includes biotechnology, and the definition of 'biotechnology' also includes derivatives.
However, continuity between a derivative and the genetic resource from which the derivative was obtained must be ascertained in order for research and development of derivatives to fall within the scope of the EU ABS Regulation.
What is traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources?
Traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources is knowledge held by an indigenous or local community that is relevant to the utilisation of genetic resources.
The traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities with traditional lifestyles can provide important clues for scientific discoveries. It encompasses knowledge, innovations and practices for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. In many cases, this knowledge has been passed down by word of mouth through generations, and can be found in stories, legends, folklore, rituals, songs, and laws.
The knowledge bearer is the rights holder in the case of traditional knowledge and therefore the one who can authorize access to the knowledge. It is up to the provider country to regulate access and benefit-sharing of traditional knowledge.
National legislation in different countries differs when it comes to the definition of what constitutes traditional knowledge. Therefore, it is important that users who are unsure whether their research involves traditional knowledge contact the country from which the genetic resource or traditional knowledge is obtained.
How are the use and user of genetic resources and traditional knowledge defined?
According to the Nagoya Protocol and the EU ABS Regulation, utilisation of genetic resources is " to conduct research and development on the genetic and/or biochemical composition of genetic resources, including through the application of biotechnology".
Genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources can be used in the development of products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and biofuels. They can play an important role in several economic sectors, such as food production and forestry and in measures taken to restore degraded ecosystems and biodiversity. In addition, genetic resources and traditional knowledge can be used in basic research in areas such as ecology and biomedicine.
A user of genetic resources or traditional knowledge is any natural or legal person who gains access and utilises the resource or knowledge in research and development relating to the genetic and/or biochemical composition of genetic resources. The rules for those using genetic resources in Sweden are found in the EU ABS Regulation 511/2014, which applies throughout the EU.
What is the provider country?
The provider country is the country that has the genetic resources or traditional knowledge at the original site (in-situ) or outside the original site (ex-situ), for example in a collection. The legislation of the provider country may regulate which permits, benefit-sharing agreements and other documents are necessary for the legal access to genetic resources or traditional knowledge, i.e. for collecting them.
What does it mean to exercise due diligence?
Due diligence means that users of a genetic resource or traditional knowledge must exercise sufficient diligence in determining whether the resource or knowledge is subject to any regulation on authorisation or benefit-sharing as referred to in the Nagoya Protocol and, if so, ensure with sufficient care that they follow the regulations. This obligation follows from Article 4 of the EU ABS Regulation.
It is common to require a Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and a Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT), although these types of documents may be called something else.
The duty to exercise due diligence can also be described as a form of duty to investigate. If you use a genetic resource or traditional knowledge, you must investigate and ensure to a reasonable extent that the resource or knowledge has been acquired in accordance with the legislation of the provider country.
The duty to investigate also refers to ensuring that the benefits of the use are distributed fairly and equitably in accordance with applicable mutually agreed terms (= a benefit-sharing agreement) and applicable legislation. However, legislation and legal requirements on benefit-sharing vary from country to country. It is also possible that no agreement or other benefit-sharing measures are required.
Other terms and concepts
For the purposes of the EU ABS Regulation, the definitions in the Convention on Biological Diversity (Article 2), the Nagoya Protocol (Article 2) and the EU ABS Regulation (Article 3) apply. Also, some other concepts are explained here, that may be useful to know when using genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with such resources.
ABS (access and benefit-sharing): access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources.
ABS Clearing-House (ABSCH): an international online platform for the exchange of information on access and benefit-sharing. Contains, for example, information on access legislation and contact persons in the countries that are parties to the Nagoya Protocol, as well as information on prior informed consents, that have been granted.
User: Any natural or legal person utilising genetic resources or traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources.
"Utilisation of genetic resources" means the conduct of research and development relating to the genetic and/or biochemical composition of genetic resources, including through the application of biotechnology as defined in Article 2 of the Convention.
"Biotechnology" means means any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.
Derivat: naturally occurring biochemical compound resulting from the genetic expression or metabolism of biological or genetic resources, even if it does not contain functional units of heredity.
PIC, prior informed consent: consent/permission from the provider country for the genetic resources/traditional knowledge to be accessed, that is issued prior to the actual collection of material.
Genetic material: Any material of plant, animal, micro-organism, or other origin containing functional units of heredity.
Genetic resources: genetic material of actual or potential value.
IRCC, internationally recognised certificate of compliance: a permit or equivalent document issued at the time of access and registered by the provider country in ABSCH as evidence that the genetic resource/traditional knowledge to which the certificate relates has been accessed in accordance with the PIC and that mutually agreed terms have been established, if required by the access legislation of the provider country.
Provider country: the country supplying genetic resources collected from in-situ sources, including populations of both wild and domesticated species, or taken from ex-situ sources, which may or may not have originated in that country.
Illegally accessed genetic resources: genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources which were not accessed in accordance with the national access and benefit-sharing legislation or regulatory requirements of the provider country that is a Party to the Nagoya Protocol requiring prior informed consent.
Samling: a set of collected samples of genetic resources and related information that is accumulated and stored, whether held by public or private entities.
Association of users: an organisation, established in accordance with the requirements of the Member State in which it is located, that represents the interests of users and that is involved in developing and overseeing the best practices referred to in Article 8 of the EU ABS Regulation.
Access: the acquisition of genetic resources or of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources in a country that is Party to the Nagoya Protocol.
Traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources: traditional knowledge held by an indigenous or local community that is relevant for the utilisation of genetic resources and that is as such described in the mutually agreed terms applying to the utilisation of genetic resources. Chapter 8, Section 5, second paragraph of the Environmental Code, the obligations in Article 4 of the EU ABS Regulation also apply for traditional knowledge that is described in mutually agreed terms for the use of the knowledge, instead of in conditions for the use of a genetic resource. This means that the rules of the Regulation also apply for the utilisation of traditional knowledge obtained separately from the genetic resource.
MAT, mutually agreed terms: the contractual arrangements concluded between a provider of genetic resources, or of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, and a user, that set out specific conditions for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources or of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, and that may also include further conditions and terms for such utilisation as well as subsequent applications and commercialisation.
How to comply with the EU ABS Regulation
It is your responsibility as a user of genetic resources or traditional knowledge to comply with the EU ABS Regulation. The requirements may apply to both commercial and non-commercial researchers, product developers, as well as researchers in basic and applied research. Here we explain step by step how to determine whether the regulation applies to your work and, if so, what it requires of you.
In order for the EU ABS Regulation to be applicable in your case, the material you use, and your research or product development must fall within the geographical, temporal and material scope of the Regulation. The European Commission has issued a comprehensive guide that clarifies this, with many examples to help you in your assessment. The document is also available in Swedish. However, we remind, that this guidance is the Commission's legal interpretation of the requirements of the EU ABS Regulation. In some cases, EU Member States may interpret the rules differently from the Commission.
Guidance document on the scope of application and core obligations of Regulation (EU) No 511/2014
1. Where did you get the material?
Geographical scope: Find out if the country where you are collecting genetic resources or traditional knowledge (1) is a party to the Nagoya Protocol and (2) has legislation that applies to access to just those genetic resources or traditional knowledge, that you collect. The requirements of the EU ABS Regulation apply if both conditions are met.
Information about which countries are parties to the Nagoya Protocol and their access laws can be found in the ABS Clearing-House:
Regardless of whether the EU ABS Regulation is applicable in your case or not, you must always comply with the legislation of the provider country and do everything that it requires of you. However, if the EU ABS Regulation is not applicable, the Regulation's due diligence requirements and the accompanying requirements for declaration and keeping the documentation do not apply.
2. When did you access the material?
Temporal scope: The EU ABS Regulation applies to genetic resources and traditional knowledge accessed 12 October 2014 or after. Material collected in-situ (at its original location) before that date, but obtained from an ex-situ collection (outside the original site) in the provider country after 12 October 2014, also falls within the temporal scope of the Regulation.
However, Articles 4, 7 and 9 of the EU ABS Regulation did not become applicable until one year later. Users are therefore required to comply with the provisions of these Articles as of October 2015, but the obligations nevertheless apply in principle to all genetic resources accessed after 12 October 2014.
3. How is the material used?
Material scope: You also need to assess whether the EU ABS Regulation is applicable on the type of research, product development or other use of genetic resources or traditional knowledge that you conduct.
A simplified rule is that mere storing of biological material, taxonomic identification or the use of genetic resources as testing tools are not in the scope of application of the ABS Regulation, while anything that involves the discovery of specific genetic and/or biochemical functions, including development of a testing tool, does.
The regulation applies to various uses, such as the development of medicinal, cosmetic and health products. It also applies to basic research even if it does not lead to product development.
The EU ABS regulation does not apply to:
• The human genome.
- Genetic resources that fall outside a country's sovereign rights, such as marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (international waters) and areas covered by the Antarctic Treaty.
- Genetic resources utilised in the framework of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources.
Genetic resources used in the framework for preparedness for pandemic influenza, the so-called PIP Framework (Pandemic Influenza Preparedness) (see link below).
4. Exercise due diligence
If the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency carries out a control of your use of genetic resources or traditional knowledge, you need to be able to show through documentation that these were obtained in accordance with the provider country's access legislation, and that the benefits of the use are shared fairly and equitably according to mutually agreed terms, if the country's legislation requires this. You find more information about the meaning of this due diligence and how to prove that the due diligence obligation has been fulfilled in Article 4(3) of the EU ABS Regulation.
If, in the course of your examination of the requirements of the provider country's regulatory framework, you have concluded that your use of the genetic resource or traditional knowledge is not subject to any permit or contractual requirements, you must be able to demonstrate that you have taken reasonable steps to find this out, for example by storing e-mail correspondence.
You must keep the documentation, such as PIC and MAT, for 20 years after the end of the period of use. You should also inform and pass on the documentation to subsequent users. This applies even if you do not declare due diligence (see below).
In countries that are parties to the Nagoya Protocol, there is an official who is designated as the national focal point. The focal points task is to provide information on the country's legislation on genetic resources. Contact details for the national focal point and information on access legislation can be found in the ABS Clearing-House platform (see section "How to use the ABS Clearing-House").
Even though the provider country is not a party to the Nagoya Protocol, it may still have legislation regulating access to its genetic resources or traditional knowledge. Compliance with this legislation is monitored by the country's own authorities, however, it is not regulated by the EU ABS Regulation.
Additional information
For additional information on the due diligence obligation, see the European Commission's guidance and the EU ABS Regulation:
Films about retrieving and utilising genetic resources
The EU ABS Regulation ensures compliance with Nagoya Protocol and thus regulates the use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge in Sweden. In the videos, we explain what is important to consider when collecting and using genetic resources.
Declaring due diligence
Article 7 of the EU ABS Regulation requires certain users of genetic resources or traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources to declare due diligence in accordance with Article 4. If you, as a user, receive external funding or develop a product, you must declare due diligence. You declare via the EU's digital tool DECLARE. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency receives the declaration and forwards it to ABSCH. (see link below). More detailed information on due diligence declarations can be found in the EU Implementing Regulation.
A declaration must be made on the following occasions:
1: After the first instalment of research funding has been received or at the latest at the end of the project, or when the final report is submitted. This applies even if there is no further product development.
Research funding means any external financial contribution given to research, whether from commercial or non-commercial sources. The concept of research funding does not include the internal budgetary resources of private or public entities.
2: At the final stage of development of a product at the time of authorisation, when the product is placed on the market, or when the result is sold or transferred to a natural or legal person. This only applies if there has been a product development.
If you do not receive research funding or develop a product, you do not need to declare due diligence. However, if you use genetic resources or traditional knowledge, you still need to comply with the due diligence requirements (see above).
A guide on how to file a declaration can be found in the user manual for DECLARE (see below). The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency may request a completionof the declaration if necessary. You must mark any confidential information in your declaration.
Non-confidential information, which is provided in the due diligence declarations, is forwarded by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to the European Commission and ABS Clearing-House via DECLARE. There, the information is published in the form of a so-called checkpoint communiqué.
ABS Clearing-House is the website of the Nagoya Protocol (ABSCH, The Access and Benefit-Sharing Clearing-House):
About registration in DECLARE
To submit a due diligence declaration, you need to register an account in DECLARE. It is up to the user/organisation to decide who in the organisation is authorized to submit due diligence declarations.
For example, a university can decide to have a joint account and register the entire university or a department of the university as an organisation/declarant in DECLARE. Similarly, a company may decide to register the whole enterprise or one or more individual branches of the enterprise as organisations/declarants. Members of an organization within the same account will be able to see filed declarations from other members of the same organization. An organization can have as many active members as desired in DECLARE within one account.
If several members are registered within the same organisation, at least one person must be registered as an administrator, so that he or she can "manage" (add or change access for) other members. The first person to register an organization is automatically given administrator status. So, there are two types of roles in an organization: the administrator and the member. Both can view, create, and submit due diligence declarations. The administrator can also remove and add new members.
Keep in mind that confidential information submitted by a member of an organization in DECLARE will be visible to other members from the same organization. If a particular organisation wants to avoid such a situation, different departments should be registered as separate organisations with separate accounts – each with its own members.
Please also note that comments between members within an account through the "Add comment" function may also be visible to the competent authorities that have access to a particular declaration. You can manage the visibility of comments in DECLARE. If you want to use the "Add comment" function for communication between members without the authorities being able to see this, select the option "Visible only to my organization members".
Additional informaton
For more information on the due diligence obligation, see the European Commission's guidance, the EU Implementing Regulation and the EU ABS Regulation:
The DECLARE declaration tool
Here you find a link to the tool, a user manual and a video that shows you step by step how to use the tool.
How to use ABS Clearing-House
The ABS Clearing-House (ABSCH) is a platform for exchanging information on information on access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, as well as on benefit-sharing arising from their utilisation. It is meant to serve as a tool to facilitate the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol. ABSCH also offers an opportunity for provider countries and users of genetic resources and traditional knowledge to connect with each other.
If you are using genetic resources or traditional knowledge from a country that is party to the Nagoya Protocol, you can visit ABSCH to find the necessary information, for example on the country's access legislation.
How to find information in ABSCH:
- Click the country where you want to acquire the resource, or select the country from the list.
- Click on "View country profile". There you find all available information about the ABS rules in this particular country, especially if it is a party to the Nagoya Protocol, but also for certain non-parties.
The national data are published by governments and contain information on the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, as well as the information that the parties are obliged to provide by the Protocol.
ABSCH
In ABSCH you find information on whether the provider country is a party to the Nagoya Protocol and whether the country has access legislation, as well as contact information to the National Focal Point (NFP) and the Competent Authority (CNA).
The Importance of Organizational Responsibility
Organisations should define internally the responsibilities with regard to the obligations arising from the EU ABS Regulation. They should also establish internal procedures for the acquisition and utilisation of genetic resources and/or traditional knowledge associated with such resources.
It is important to note that the requirements of the EU ABS Regulation do not only apply to research and development carried out by the university's/company's/etc. own staff. Visiting researchers and students can bring in and use foreign genetic resources or traditional knowledge in their research. It is important to clarify the responsibilities with regard to these researchers and students as well.
Using Swedish genetic resources
Before you use a Swedish genetic resource
It is forbidden to collect certain plant and animal species that are protected by law. Find out which legislation applies to the species that you want to use as genetic material.
Especially, you should check the Species Protection Ordinance (2007:845) and the Swedish hunting legislation, but other legislation may also be relevant.
If you want to use a species covered by the international convention CITES, you may need to to apply for a CITES certificate and/or a CITES permit in accordance with Council Regulation (EU) No 338/97. If you want to conduct research or ex-situ conservation in Sweden on an invasive alien species, you may need a permit under Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Application for a permit for research or ex-situ conservation of invasive alien species
CITES – trade and travel with endangered species (jordbruksverket.se)
Genetic resources in protected areas
If the genetic resource you want to use is located within a nature reserve, national park or other protected area, you may need an exemption or a permit under the Swedish Environmental Code. You can apply for this from the county administrative board or, in some cases, the municipality.
Genetic resources outside protected areas
The above-mentioned species protection, hunting and CITES regulation, as well as rules concerning invasive alien species, also apply outside protected areas. However, there are many plant species, fungi and other organisms, that you can use with only landowner's permission or with the support of the Right of Public Access, when they occur outside protected areas.
You can use a genetic resource without the landowner's permission if it is obvious that the resource has no economic value for the landowner and the collection does not cause any damage to the site.
Access to traditional knowledge in Sweden
Sweden has not enacted any access legislation based on Nagoya Protocol concerning traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources. Thus, the obligations under the EU ABS Regulation do not apply to the use of Swedish traditional knowledge.
Granting research funding and approving products
Research funders and product approval authorities play an important role in disseminating information to users of genetic resources.
You can contribute to a better implementation of the EU ABS Regulation by informing users about its requirements in connection with the allocation of public or private research funding and at the final stage of product development.
Are you a collection holder of genetic resources?
If a collection of biological material, such as an herbarium or a collection of microbial strains, meets certain conditions, it can be certified as a registered collection. This means that the user does not need to obtain his or her own permit or agreement when using the genetic resources of the registered collection.
The European Commission is responsible for establishing and maintaining a register of approved registered collections within the Union. However, the Member State is responsible for verifying that the collection meets the criteria of the EU ABS Regulation and can grant the status of registered collection. In Sweden the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency examines the applications for approval as a registered collection. Once a collection has been recognised by a Member State, in accordance with Article 5 of the Regulation, it is included in the Commission's register of collections.
Requirements to become a registered collection
In order for the collection or part of it to be registered, it must meet the criteria specified in Article 5 of the EU ABS Regulation. The collection shall be able to function in order to:
- apply standardised procedures for exchanging samples of genetic resources and related information with other collections, and for supplying samples of genetic resources and related information to third persons for their utilisation in line with the Convention and the Nagoya Protocol
- supply genetic resources and related information to third persons for their utilisation only with documentation providing evidence that the genetic resources and the related information were accessed in accordance with applicable access and benefit-sharing legislation or regulatory requirements and, where relevant, with mutually agreed terms.
- keep records of all samples of genetic resources and related information supplied to third persons for their utilisation.
- establish or use unique identifiers, where possible, for samples of genetic resources supplied to third persons.
- use appropriate tracking and monitoring tools for exchanging samples of genetic resources and related information with other collections.
The information requirements for applications can be found in Annex 1 to the EU Implementing Regulation.
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1866
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency must regularly carry out checks of the registered collections.
Contact to become a registered collection
Contact the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency if you want to know more about the requirements to become a registered collection
Applications to become a registered collection should be sent to
Best Practices
It may be good for you as a collection holder to know that the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF) has developed a best practice "CETAF Code of Conduct and Best Practice for Access and Benefit-Sharing" to support collections concerned by the Nagoya Protocol and the EU ABS Regulation.
This best practice is officially recognised by the European Commission and can be found on the Commission's website. It can be found by clicking on the register section under best practices.
CETAF Code of Conduct and Best Practice for Access and Benefit-Sharing (pdf på ec.europa.eu)
Information on how to apply for recognition of best practices on the Commission's website
Checks of users' compliance
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is the supervisory authority in Sweden when it comes to verifying that users (see definition under the section "Central concepts") of genetic resources or traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources comply with the requirements of the EU ABS Regulation.
Digital sequence information (DSI)
Digital sequence information (DSI) refers to digital information about the biochemical constituents of genetic resources, in particular structures formed by molecular chains.