SECTION
ON MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
Preservation and
utilization of natural biodiversity in context of search for economically
valuable medicinal biota
(Technical Report)
The Melaka Accord
Resolutions ratified by ASOMPS VIII: Eighth Asian
Symposium on Medicinal Plants, Spices and Other Natural Products. 12-16
June 1994, Melaka, Malaysia.
Given that in the time since the Manila Declaration
was adopted at ASOMPS VII in February 1992:
- that the Manila Declaration has been endorsed
by the Bukit Tinggi Declaration in October 1992,
- the UNCED developed the Conventions on Biological
Diversity in 1992 providing for:
- the conservation of biological diversity
- the sustainable use of its components;
- and the fair and equitable sharing of the
benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources
- it has been confirmed that the UN Law of the
Sea Convention will come into force in November 1994 and recognizing
that:-
- the region represented by ASOMPS participants
has a wide range of terrestrial and marine biological diversity
- the region has a significant human resource and
skills base to conserve and use its genetic resources
- many biological species are not confined in their
occurrence to political boundaries
ASOMPS VIII has considered the benefits to be accrued
by adopting consistent regional approaches to: legislations, policies
and procedures relevant to accessing and conserving biological diversity
- involving the scientists of the different component
nations in training, research and development related to the sustainable
use of that biological diversity
- ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of the
knowledge and financial benefits arising from utilization of a Nation's
genetic resources
ASOMPS VIII has therefore adopted the resolutions
that:
1. Within 1994 each national group of scientists
and technologists transmit to their relevant governments the Manila
Declaration, noting that its objectives are consistent with those of
the UN Convention on Biodiversity, encourages its incorporation in relevant
national strategies on conservation of biodiversity, and request that
it be brought to appropriate regional bodies, such as ASEAN, for adoption
on a regional basis, as a part of this bioregional approach to conservation
of biodiversity, within the overall concept of ecologically sustainable
development.
As a matter of urgency all nations should develop
workable, straight-forward legislation to control the collection and
conservation of the biota under their jurisdiction which will be used
for bioprospecting.
2. The scientists of each country represented at
ASOMPS VIII, in conjunction with the appropriate government agencies
in their countries and with appropriate legal advisors should within
six (6) months of this symposium prepare and submit to UNESCO-ROSTSEA
a draft version of their countries proposed legislation and guidelines
on access to, research on, and use of the biological resources of their
countries in order to ensure equitable and sustainable development.
UNESCO shall be requested to organize, within eight
(8) months of this symposium a meeting of a working
group to:
(a) consider the various draft legislation and guidelines
(b) formulate an agreed set of minimum regulations
and guidelines concerning these biological resources which might be
applicable to all countries involved
The working group should consist of some 20-25 people
with scientific, governmental and legal representation from each of
the representative countries involved so that definitive and authoritative
proposals can be formulated during the meeting.
UNESCO shall be requested to distribute this agreed
set of minimum legislation and guidelines together with the various
countries' drafts and relevant comments from the working group, to all
countries involved in ASOMPS VIII so that these countries can optimize
their own legislation and ensure compatibility with those of other countries
in the region.
3. We recommend that journal editors, peer reviewers
and professional societies should when reviewing manuscripts, grant
applications or conference papers attempt to ensure that host country
collaborators receive appropriate recognition for their contribution.
4. We recommend that in countries where permit infrastructure
exists, all researchers formally acknowledge permit approval by citation
of permit number or equivalent) in manuscripts, technical reports and
conference papers, and that copies of such papers be provided annually
to the permit authorities. In countries where no such permit legislation
exists, the national government shall be encouraged to develop such
legislation.
5. Nations within the region support the concept
of developing regional screening facilities as the first step in stimulating
the formation of bioregional drug discovery and development consortia,
and establish a working party to further develop this concept.
