Red List reveals conservation pay-offs

The protocol states that approval from the provider must be obtained before a genetic resource is used in a product and that, in each case, contracts governing the distribution of benefits should be agreed by provider nations and users. User nations are obliged to establish at least one organisation to check that proper procedures are followed and prevent the illegal use of genetic resources. In some cases, the benefits from derivative products, made with genetic material that has been improved or altered by the user, will also have to be shared with the nation that provided the original genetic resources. Whether such benefits are shared will be decided on a case-by-case basis.