FAQ's

To have a check on misappropriation of biological resources, the Act provides that access to biological resources occurring in or obtained from India, including those deposited in repositories outside India, or TK associated thereto, is subject to the approval of the NBA. Further, it is mandatory to obtain approval from the NBA before seeking any IPR based on the biological resource and associated knowledge obtained from India.

Section 18(4) empowers the NBA, on behalf of the Central Government, to take any measures to oppose the grant of IPR in any country outside India, utilizing the biological resources which are found in or brought from India, including those deposited in repositories outside India, or TK associated thereto accessed, without the approval of the NBA.

As per the provisions of the BD Act, any person covered under Section 7 who has applied for IPR or a patent based on biological resources obtained from India is required to register with the NBA. Once the patent has been granted, whether the grant occurs within India or in a foreign country, this intimation must be made within 45 days from the date on which the patent is granted. The notification should be sent via email, addressed to the NBA, and must clearly include relevant details such as patent number, date of grant and the country of grant of the patent.

The SBBs are mandated to perform the following functions:

• Regulate the activity of commercial utilisation of biological resources undertaken by Section 7 person (Indian individual/entity) by granting or rejecting approvals;
• Determine the fair and equitable sharing of benefits as per the regulations notified by the NBA while granting approvals;
• Advise the State Government on matters relating to the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of biological resources or TK associated thereto, in conformity with the regulations or guidelines if any, issued by the Central Government or the NBA;
• Perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act or as may be prescribed by the State Government in the state-specific Biological Diversity Rules.

The NBA may/shall revoke an approval if the applicant violates the provisions of the BD Act or provides false information or misleading information, or fails to comply with the terms and conditions specified in the agreement entered into with the NBA.

Section 40 of the Biological Diversity Act empowers the Central Government to exempt certain biological resources or their derivatives, including agricultural wastes, as notified and cultivated medicinal plants and their products for entities covered under Section 7 from the purview of the Act, when they are “normally traded as commodities,” through a notification.

However, when the same item is used as a resource in a process or for the development of a product, or claiming an IPR, such item is not exempted, and prior approval of NBA/SBB is required under Section 3 or Section 6 or Section 7 of the Act, as may be applicable.

No, when biological resources are used solely as research tools for internal check genotypes for comparative trials, testing purposes and fulfilling regulatory requirements (e.g., evaluating a new seed variety, pesticide, or biotech product), it won't require approval of NBA/SBBs.

The BD Act, 2002 plays a vital role in the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems through its three core objectives:

1. Conservation of biological diversity: Promotes the conservation of species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity through legal measures such as notification of threatened species and biodiversity heritage sites.
2. Sustainable use of its components: Ensures that the biological resources are utilised in a manner that maintains ecological balance and prevents overexploitation.
3. Fair and equitable sharing of benefits: Ensures that users of biological resources and associated TK, share benefits on an equitable basis with the local communities, knowledge holders, and individuals. These shared benefits are then utilized by the communities for conservation and sustainable management of biological resources as well as socio-economic development of the local communities. Recent amendments have reinforced these conservation measures by exempting individuals covered under Section 7 from seeking access approvals for cultivated medicinal plants. This is intended to reduce pressure on wild populations and curb the overexploitation of natural ecosystems.
4. Altogether, these provisions create a balanced framework that promotes both sustainable use and conservation. By encouraging community participation and making provisions for socio-economic development, the Act fosters local stewardship and strengthens efforts to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems.

The benefit claimers are individuals or groups who conserve biological resources and their by-products, creators or those who possess/holds TK associated thereto [excluding codified traditional knowledge only for Indians]. This includes individuals/groups who provide information relating to the use of such biological resources, innovations and practices. The benefit claimers are entitled to receive the benefit-sharing component arising from the use of such biological resources and associated knowledge (Section 2(aa)).

In the event of sharing biological resources/transfer of knowledge with the sister companies involved in the same business activities located outside or inside for undertaking research, the company that applies to NBA should provide their details in the application as co-applicant(s) in Form-1. If the same research activities are undertaken by all the sister concerns using the same biological resources, the above scenario will be applicable. However, the NBA will decide on a case-by-case basis.

In the event of sharing/transfer of results of research with sister companies (with co-applicants) in or outside India for undertaking further research by the sister companies, no approval is required separately from NBA as they are all applied in Form-1.

In the event of sharing biological resources with the sister companies located in or outside India for commercial utilization, the company who applies to NBA should provide their sister companies in the application as co-applicant in Form-2.

No approval is required. However, any person who intends to use the biological resource(s) and or TK associated thereto obtained from any foreign country for research or commercial purposes or for obtaining IPR in India, shall submit a declaration in Form-10 to the NBA as specified under Rule 18 of the BD Rules, 2024.

Section 39 provides for designating institutions as repositories for the deposition of voucher specimens of different categories of biological resources, which were accessed with the approval of the NBA under the BD Act. Repositories serve as secure and scientific storage facilities for biological samples, including seeds, tissues, and DNA, ensuring long-term conservation of biodiversity. So far, 20 institutions have been notified as repositories by the Central Government under the BD Act.

No, the NBA does not issue a ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) under the provisions of the BD Act and the corresponding BD Rules. Instead of issuing NOCs, the NBA operates through a defined set of electronic forms (e-forms) for specific activities stipulated in the Second Schedule to the BD Rules.

• The functions of a BMC include conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biological diversity, including conservation of habitats, landraces, folk varieties, cultivars, domesticated breeds of animals, living beings in water bodies, microorganisms, and chronicling of TK associated thereto relating to biological diversity as per Section 41(1A) of the Act.
• As per Section 41(1B) of the amended BD Act, the composition of the BMC shall be as prescribed by the State Government. However, the number of members of the said Committee shall not be less than seven and not exceeding eleven.
• The BMC shall issue certificates of origin of the cultivated medicinal plants being accessed in its jurisdiction, referred to under sub-section (3) of Section 7 of the Act and maintain the records of such transactions.

Yes, as part of the agreement signing process with the NBA, the applicant is required to sign the IRCC consent form, wherein he/she may indicate specific information, if any, to be treated as confidential. Based on this declaration, the NBA will update the relevant details on the Access and Benefit Sharing-Clearing House (ABS-CH) website, an official platform under the CBD and will publish only the non-confidential information. If the applicant has provided a valid email address, a copy of the certificate will be sent to them directly from the ABS-CH portal upon publication.

The IRCC serves as evidence that biological resources have been accessed lawfully and in compliance with the provider country’s regulatory framework, thereby facilitating transparency and fair and equitable sharing of benefits at the international level.

Breeding activities carried out by the seed sector are considered as a research. Accordingly, Indian entities (i.e., persons covered under Section 7 of the BD Act) are not required to obtain approval from the NBA or SBBs for accessing released commercial crop varieties or PPVFR-registered materials that are already in the market, if the purpose is research or bio-survey and bio-utilization.

However, approval from the respective SBB is required when CVRC varieties are accessed for commercial utilization. The BD (ABS) Regulations, 2025, provide a simplified procedure for SBBs to grant approval for such cases. Whereas, commercial utilization of PPVRFA registered varieties are exempted under section 59A of the Act.

No, when biological resources are used solely as research tools for testing purposes and fulfilling the regulatory requirements (e.g., evaluating a new seed variety, pesticide, or biotech product), it won't attract ABS obligations, as these uses do not constitute research or commercial utilisation on the biological resource itself.

The BD Act provides legal recognition and protection to traditional knowledge and practices associated with biological resources. It safeguards the rights of the knowledge holders and recognises them as “benefit claimers,” enabling them to receive a fair share of benefits arising from its use. Further, traditional practitioners and other such knowledge holders are provided appropriate exemptions under the Act in a supportive and enabling manner.

Section 7 of the BD (Amendment) Act, 2023 does not apply to the following:

• codified traditional knowledge;
• cultivated medicinal plants and their products; and
• local people and communities of the area, including growers and cultivators of biodiversity and to vaids, hakims and registered AYUSH practitioners only who have been practising indigenous medicines, including Indian systems of medicine as a profession for sustenance and livelihood.

However, the exemption for commercial utilization of cultivated medicinal plants shall be applicable only if a ’Certificate of Origin’ is obtained from the BMC in a manner as prescribed in Rule 19 of the BD (Amendment) Rules, 2025.

Any person who intends to access the biological resources or TK associated thereto or both for any of the activities under Section 3, 4, & 6 shall make an application in that behalf to the concerned authority in the prescribed format. The NBA, SBB, or UTBC concerned, after scrutiny of the application and consultations with the BMC(s) concerned, may grant approval in the form of a written agreement on mutually agreed terms. The agreement consisting of terms and conditions to the users, including a benefit-sharing component payable to the NBA/SBBs/UTBCs.

The ABS amount realised from the users of biological resources and TK associated thereto on behalf of the conservers or holders of these resources and or knowledge. The NBA and SBBs/UTBCs distribute the ABS amount to beneficiaries for utilising it for the conservation or socio-economic development of the area from which these biological resources are accessed.

If the companies in question are covered under Section 3(2) of the Act, then both the transferor and the transferee have to obtain the prior approval of the NBA for accessing the biological resources for research, including genotyping, by applying in Form-1.

If the company (transferor) sending the samples outside India is a Section 7 entity, then the receiving company (transferee) shall need to obtain the prior approval of NBA by applying in Form-1 as per Rule 13 of the BD Rules, 2024.

Yes, bio-survey and bio-utilization are regulated activities under the provisions of the BD Act. Hence, prior approval from the NBA is mandatory for individuals/ entities who fall under Section 3(2) of the BD Act.