Protection of inventions related to biodiversity and genetic resources

On September 13, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam National Office of Intellectual Property cooperated with the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property and the Vietnam - Switzerland Project Coordination Committee on Intellectual Property to organize the association. Scientific workshop entitled "Protection of inventions related to biodiversity and genetic resources" .

This is a forum to provide Vietnamese experts with information about the development of the World in the protection of inventions related to biodiversity and genetic resources. At the same time, providing practical scientific bases for Vietnam to develop a legal corridor to protect the sharing of benefits in the exploitation and sustainable use of genetic resources, including the Law on Biodiversity is being drafted.

Vietnam is one of 16 countries in the world that is rated as having very high biodiversity, especially on genetic resources. This is an important source of food to ensure agricultural development, ensure food security, make an important contribution to the country's economic development.

Biodiversity at the bottom of the sea in Mt.(Photo: Labor)

Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh Nhan, Deputy Head of Nature Conservation Department (Environment Protection Department) has provided some important evidence about genetic diversity in Vietnam such as 734 species of plants in 79 families sown. planting throughout the territory of Vietnam; The fauna has been identified with 275 mammal species, 1026 bird species, 500 freshwater fish species and over 2,000 marine fish species and tens of thousands of invertebrate species .

The expression of genotypes in Vietnam is also very rich, particularly rice has nearly 400 different rice varieties. Meanwhile, the practice of gene patents protection in Vietnam does not yet have specific legal provisions on the issue of sharing benefits derived from genetic resources and knowledge related to genetic resources; value and ownership have not been determined; awareness of benefit sharing is limited.

At the workshop, delegates proposed many urgent solutions for Vietnam such as quickly having a national strategy on biodiversity conservation; institutionalize access to genetic resources and benefit sharing; improve the critical capacity of access to genetic resources and benefit sharing (including institutional, technical, human and financial .); focus on communication to raise community awareness; regularly learning experiences and making the most of the help of countries and international organizations in this field .