New Delhi, March 31 (NationPress) India has positioned itself as the world's foremost issuer of Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) in accordance with the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS), representing over 56 percent of all IRCCs granted globally, as stated by an official from the Environment Ministry.

As per the most recent statistics from the ABS Clearing-House, India has successfully issued 3,561 IRCCs out of a worldwide total of 6,311, significantly outpacing all other nations in the adoption of this protocol, according to the official's remarks.

Among the 142 nations listed on the ABS Clearing-House—a global initiative aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability—only 34 countries have managed to issue IRCCs to date.

Following India, France ranks second with 964 certificates, followed by Spain with 320, Argentina at 257, Panama with 156, and Kenya at 144.

This achievement underscores India's unwavering dedication to the equitable and transparent utilization of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge, the official emphasized.

According to the 2010 Nagoya Protocol, nations that offer commercial access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge are mandated to issue IRCCs.

These certificates act as formal proof that Prior Informed Consent has been secured and that Mutually Agreed Terms have been established between the resource users and providers. The pertinent details are then submitted to the ABS Clearing-House.

The statement highlighted, "IRCCs are vital for monitoring the utilization of genetic resources, from research and innovation to their eventual commercial applications, ensuring that benefits are fairly distributed to the provider country."

India's leading role is a testament to the effective execution of its ABS framework under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, which is implemented through the National Biodiversity Authority at the central level, State Biodiversity Boards/Union Territory Biodiversity Councils at the state level, and Biodiversity Management Committees at the local level.

Efficient processes and robust institutional frameworks have facilitated the swift handling of applications and ensured adherence to international obligations.

This milestone accentuates India's proactive engagement in global biodiversity governance, as well as its ongoing commitment to fostering the fair and equitable distribution of benefits arising from the use of biological resources, as stated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Furthermore, it aligns with international objectives concerning biodiversity conservation and sustainable usage, reinforcing India's status as a key contributor to the implementation of global environmental agreements.