India Leads World In Nagoya Protocol Compliance Certificates, Underlining Push On Biodiversity Governance

India has emerged as the world’s leading issuer of Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) under the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing, accounting for more than 56% of all such certificates issued globally, according to the latest data cited by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The ministry said India has issued 3,561 IRCCs out of a global total of 6,311, putting it well ahead of other countries in the implementation of the protocol.

The gap is substantial. Of the 142 countries registered on the ABS Clearing-House, only 34 have issued IRCCs so far. India is followed by France with 964 certificates, Spain with 320, Argentina with 257, Panama with 156, and Kenya with 144, according to the PIB release.

Under the Nagoya Protocol, countries that grant access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge are required to issue these certificates after Prior Informed Consent has been secured and Mutually Agreed Terms have been established between users and providers. Once issued, the details are uploaded to the ABS Clearing-House, creating an official record that the access process complies with international rules.

In policy terms, IRCCs are more than administrative paperwork. They are meant to ensure that biological resources used in research, innovation, and commercial applications are accessed lawfully and that the benefits arising from such use are shared fairly with the provider country. The certificates therefore sit at the heart of the global access-and-benefit-sharing framework, which seeks to balance scientific and commercial use of biodiversity with equity and sovereign rights over biological resources.

The government attributed India’s lead to the implementation of its Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. According to the ministry, the system operates through the National Biodiversity Authority at the central level, State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils at the state level, and Biodiversity Management Committees at the local level. It said streamlined procedures and institutional mechanisms have helped India process applications efficiently while meeting its international obligations.

The achievement also carries a broader diplomatic and governance signal. By dominating the global tally of IRCC issuance, India is positioning itself as an active player in biodiversity governance, especially in debates around fair use of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge. The ministry said the milestone aligns with wider international goals on biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, and equitable benefit sharing, reinforcing India’s standing in the implementation of global environmental agreements.

Source:PIB