Council of Ministers Regulation to provide for Access to Genetic Resources and Community knowledge and Community Rights (No. 169/2009).

This Regulation, made under the Access to Genetic Resources and Community Knowledge, and Community Rights Proclamation, provides rules relative to the application under section 14 of the proclamation to access genetic resources and/or community knowledge. The regulation aims to ensure that access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge is conducted in a fair, equitable, and sustainable manner, with benefits shared appropriately among stakeholders, especially local communities.
The regulation establishes detailed procedures for both commercial and non-commercial access to genetic resources. It defines key terms such as "access agreement," "community consent," and "access money," and outlines the roles of the Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and other competent authorities. The regulation mandates that access applications must include comprehensive information about the applicant, the intended use of the resources, and proposed benefit-sharing mechanisms. It also requires public notification and allows for objections or comments from stakeholders, ensuring transparency and community involvement. It includes annexed forms for different types of access applications—commercial, non-commercial, and those under the multilateral system. It specifies how access money should be administered and utilized, including funding biodiversity conservation projects and community development initiatives. The regulation also details the process for obtaining community consent, including the roles of local councils and the House of Peoples’ Representatives. Finally, it mandates the maintenance of an access register and grants the Institute authority to issue directives and coordinate implementation across regional states.