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Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) and its relation to Biopiracy
Access and Benefit sharing is a concept that goes hand in hand with the idea of biopiracy. The main idea of Access and Benefit Sharing that is essential to biopiracy is that both users and providers of genetic resources must equitably benefit from the from what comes of those genetic resources. This involves the providers of the genetic resources; it must be ensured that they receive just compensation for the genetic resources that they are in control of. It involves the users of said genetic resources; use for genetic resources can range from research to the development of new products. National focal points, countries in which said genetic resources reside and competent national authorities, bodies who govern the legality of the countries genetic resources are also involved. These ABS policies are important because they exist to protect the providers of genetic resources. Consequently, the absence of these policies in countries such as the US can get problematic. When ABS policies are written into legislature, it grants protections and liberties to both parties so they are not open to unfair exploitation. The greatest example of ABS policies being passed into law or at least some form of legislature can be found in the CBD, or Convention on Biological Diversity (see below). The law is able to influence science so that it is conducted ethically and no one party is being taken advantage of. This is not the case everywhere, the US being the most stand out candidate. It is important to note in spite of ABS policies and the CBD, biopiracy can still take root. Canada, for example, has a history of unfair and inequitable practices that harm indigenous peoples.