Bylaw No. 20 of 2021 on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization promulgated under Articles (4) and (30) of the Environmental Protection Law No. 6 of 2017.

This Bylaw consisting of 15 articles applies to (i) genetic resources found in land, sea or aquatic ecosystems, or those cultivated or taken from protection programs in or outside habitats in Jordan; (ii) derivatives of genetic resources; (iii) traditional knowledge. Article 4 establishes a Genetic Resources Committee whose main functions and powers include: reviewing applications for genetic resources, informing local communities of their rights, ensuring compliance with prior informed consent requirements, overseeing negotiations with users of genetic resources, validating negotiations with community representatives for access to traditional knowledge, and recommending Ministerial approval for various activities related to genetic resources and traditional knowledge. Article 6 outlines the main functions and powers of the Directorate for the protection of nature at the Ministry of the Environment as follows which is responsible for processing applications related to genetic resources, validating information provided by users, recommending actions to the Committee, identifying and disseminating information on genetic resource threats, designating information-gathering bodies, ensuring compliance with agreements, maintaining a national database of genetic resources and associated activities, documenting applications and permits, overseeing the Clearing House Mechanism, monitoring compliance with regulations, and carrying out additional tasks assigned by the Minister.
Under article 10 the Minister has the authority to revoke prior informed consent for accessing genetic resources upon the Committee's recommendation in cases of (i) violation of Bylaw provisions or access conditions; (ii) concealing information affecting rights from genetic resource access; (iii) environmental protection, biodiversity preservation, or species endangerment; (iv) public interest concerns. Article 11 enables the Minister, following the committee's recommendation, to impose restrictions to safeguard genetic resources in cases involving endangered species, adverse effects on human health or local cultural values, harmful environmental impacts, loss of genetic diversity or ecosystem services, non-compliance with biosafety or food security rules, and misuse against national or international interests, while Article 12 asserts the Kingdom's ownership over genetic resources, prohibiting their disposal, sale, commercial exploitation, or collection without Ministry consent, extending to the registration of associated intellectual property rights.