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6/3/24, 9:35 AM UAE participates in international diplomatic conference on genetic resources in Geneva - Middle East News 247

Treaty ensures improved patenting system for innovations with genetic resources

The treaty finalized by participants of the Conference ensures enhanced intellectual property protection with
regard to innovations or knowledge derived from genetic resources. Genetic resources include medicinal

plants, agricultural crops, animal breeds and other inventions, which cannot be directly deemed as
intellectual property. However, the inventions on which they are based can be protected by improving and
regulating the granting of patents, to which all signatories are bound by the Treaty.

The Treaty obliges member states to comply with all standards approved by the Organization, whereby the

parties acceding to the Treaty must adopt a system for the detection of genetic resources in the application
for patents submitted to them and entities affiliated to them. The inventor or innovator is required to disclose
the source of the country of origin of the genetic material and any associated traditional knowledge on which

his/her innovation is based on. It was agreed that member states would begin to develop their regulations in
preparation for the final signing of the Treaty and commit themselves to its provisions in coordination with
WIPO.

Ministry of Economy’s active participation in the diplomatic conference

The participation of the Ministry of Economy in the Conference, representing the UAE, underscores the
country’s leadership in complying with international norms and standards on IP protection, the importance of

the sector in sustainable economic development, and the consolidation of its position as a global hub for
innovation and creative economy.

The Ministry will soon begin working on the implementation of the new treaty through cooperation with patent
offices and international bodies to ensure effective implementation of patent screening requirements with
high efficiency and in full compliance with international standards.

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