Government approved draft amendments to the law on access to genetic resources

The Council of Ministers has adopted a draft law amending the law on access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits from their use. The document, submitted by the Minister of Climate and Environment, is intended to organize and secure funding for activities related to the supervision of the use of genetic resources in Poland.

The draft sets a maximum spending limit for the next 10 years of the legislation - 2026-2035. As the ministry emphasizes, the introduction of stable, multi-year funding will enable planning and efficient performance of tasks related to controlling the use of genetic resources, such as plants, microorganisms, biological material or DNA samples.

The control system in this area is carried out by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection and provincial environmental inspectorates. These institutions check, among other things, whether scientists, research institutes, botanical and zoological gardens, biotechnology companies or laboratories use resources in accordance with current administrative procedures and international obligations.

Key solutions included in the project:

• Introducing a 10-year spending limit for 2026-2035,
• Enabling long-term planning of the law's implementation costs,
• Ensure stable financing of the entire genetic resources control system,
• Maintaining the current number of full-time positions at provincial environmental inspectorates,
• Ensure regular supervision of the use of genetic resources in accordance with international obligations for the protection of biodiversity.

The new regulations are expected to take effect the day after they are announced in the Official Gazette.

Source: KPRM