Bhutan’s national access and benefit sharing (ABS) policy 2012
The conservation and sustainable use of Bhutan’s biodiversity through securing the economic, social and spiritual wellbeing of the Bhutanese people. The National ABS policy covers the utilization of Bhutanese genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with biological resources when used for commercial and/or research purposes. This policy excludes biological resources when traded and used as commodities. If biological resources traded as commodities are later used as genetic resources for commercial and/or research purposes, such use shall be covered by the scope of this policy. This policy further excludes the use, sharing and exchange of traditional knowledge associated with biological resources within and between local communities. If such knowledge is used beyond its traditional context for commercial and/or research purposes, such use shall be covered by the scope of this policy.