Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (NP)
It is part of DSMZ's responsibility to ensure that depositors of organisms in the culture collection, as well as recipients of cultures are aware of their obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Nagoya Protocol. Of particular relevance in this respect is article 15 of the CBD. This article emphasizes the sovereign right of individual countries to genetic resources within their borders and states that no such materials should be removed without agreement between the collector of samples and the competent authority in the country of origin of the microbial genetic resources. It is the responsibility of depositors and end users to ensure that these undertakings are complied with.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, or Rio Convention') is, among others, emphasizing the sovereign right of individual countries to genetic resources within their borders and states that no such materials should be removed without agreement between the sampling institution/person and the government of the country of origin. ("Prior Informed Consent", PIC, and "Mutually Agreed Terms", MAT). These shall ensure that a fair and equitable share of the benefits resulting from any commercial exploitation of microbial (genetic) resources are returned to the country of origin.
Material Transfer Agreements
All organisms are deposited and distributed according to the ECCO Core Material Transfer Agreement (ECCO = European Culture Collections' Organisation).
Some particularly marked organisms may only be used for specific purposes (see also restrictions). The conditions of usage have to be confirmed by signing and returning a form ("Material Transfer Agreement") which will be provided by the DSMZ.