Recent Amendment - 2023
It is aimed at
- simplifying access to the country’s rich biodiversity
- for R&D while ensuring environmental protection
- fair benefits to local communities.
- encouraging cultivation of medicinal plants
- easing the compliance burden on Indian companies.
What is Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)?
- compensatory amount
- paid to tribal
- with a tradition of
- gathering
- safeguarding
- utilising herbs
- medicinal plants
- crucial for the Ayush industry (manufacturers who sell such medicines or treatments).
What are the issues with the Amendments?
- ABS exemption to Ayush: It has curtailed the revenue of tribals, whose livelihood depends on herbs, by exempting Ayush practitioners from paying ABS (ranging from 0.1 to 0.5% of sales).
- Ambiguity in Definitions: The term ‘Ayush practitioner’ is not clearly defined. If a person cultivates herbs without registering a company and then sells them to companies, there is no way to regulate that.
- Decriminalisation of Biodiversity Offences: This was aimed at reducing the fear among the stakeholders for effective compliance. However, it may lead to environmental concerns.