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Free Nagoya Protocol Quick Scan

If your organization carries out R&D on biological material, you are likely within the scope of the complex international legislation on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) and the Nagoya Protocol. Failure to comply with this legal framework can result in the loss of your R&D results, reputational damage, financial penalties, or even imprisonment. 3BIO therefore offers a free, 10-minute Quick Scan to help you assess your situation. You receive an instant traffic-light snapshot, and one of our ABS experts will contact you within 48 hours to schedule a free 20-minute review call.

Duration
≈ 10 minutes
Instant
Traffic-light snapshot
Within 48h
Free 20-min expert call
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How this works. Thirteen multiple-choice questions distilled from our full on-site ABS audit, plus a few details so we can route your case to the right expert. You receive an immediate traffic-light snapshot, and an ABS lawyer will contact you within 48 hours to schedule a free 20-minute review call. Click the green next to any question for guidance.
Section 1 of 6

Genetic resources in use

Select all that apply.
Under the Nagoya Protocol, "genetic resources" means genetic material of actual or potential value. The scope extends to derivatives (naturally occurring biochemical compounds), and increasingly to Digital Sequence Information (DSI). Associated traditional knowledge held by indigenous and local communities triggers separate obligations.
Please select at least one option.
Select all that apply.
"Utilisation" under the Nagoya Protocol includes research and development on the genetic or biochemical composition of the resource. Use as a mere testing or diagnostic tool, and clearly scoped service work, may fall outside utilisation, but the boundary is fact-specific and worth assessing.
Please select at least one option.
In situ collection from the natural environment normally requires Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT) directly from the country of origin. Ex situ sourcing from culture collections or vendors shifts some obligations, but does not remove the user's due diligence duties.
Please select one option.
PIC (Prior Informed Consent) is the authorisation to access genetic resources, issued by the country of origin. MAT (Mutually Agreed Terms) defines the conditions of use and benefit-sharing. The number of permits already in hand is a useful indicator of operational maturity.
Please select one option.
Section 2 of 6

Access, change of use & transfer procedures

A robust access procedure includes a written SOP, a standard request form, role definitions, and a checkpoint that links each project to its potential ABS obligations before material is acquired.
Please select one option.
A change of use can trigger fresh ABS obligations (including the need to renegotiate MAT) even when the original permit is still valid. Many non-compliance findings originate here, not at the initial access stage.
Please select one option.
Every transfer of genetic resources (between departments, sites, or to third parties) must preserve the chain of ABS-relevant information and documentation. Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) are the standard contractual instrument.
Please select one option.
Section 3 of 6

Policy, management system & procedures

In the EU, for instance, Regulation 511/2014 implements the Nagoya Protocol and imposes due diligence obligations on users of genetic resources. Comparable frameworks exist in other jurisdictions worldwide. Mature organisations operate written procedures at corporate, local, and departmental level so obligations are interpreted consistently across the organisation and recoverable in case of audit.
Please select one option.
Optional. A few sentences are enough.
Consortium agreements and visiting-scientist arrangements often introduce shared utilisation of genetic resources without a clear allocation of ABS responsibility. Specific clauses, MTAs, and onboarding rules close this gap.
Section 4 of 6

Roles & responsibilities

A formally appointed ABS responsible (individual or team) is the single most reliable predictor of operational compliance. The role can be central, local, or departmental, but appointment must be documented and communicated.
Please select one option.
Section 5 of 6

Training & awareness

Senior management awareness underpins resource allocation and accountability. Non-compliance with EU Regulation 511/2014 can carry administrative fines and reputational damage, both of which require board-level visibility.
Please select one option.
Recurring, documented training is expected by national competent authorities during inspections. One-off awareness sessions are a starting point, but rarely sufficient when staff turnover is significant.
Please select one option.
Section 6 of 6

Track & trace

Article 4 of EU Regulation 511/2014 requires users to keep documentation and information for twenty years after the end of utilisation. A central, queryable system is the most reliable way to meet this obligation across departments.
Please select one option.
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An ABS expert will contact you within 48 hours at the email you provided to schedule a time. They will review your snapshot in advance so the call is focused on your specific situation.

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