The claims of the national and state biodiversity boards for royalty from Brazil and other countries for the Ongole Bull (also called Brahma bull) might be of no use. Sources say that the allegations of bio-piracy will not stand scrutiny internationally as the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing of biological and genetic resources, which is likely to come into force in 2014, cannot be applied in retrospective effect.
Speaking exclusively to this newspaper at the HICC CoP-11 venue on Saturday, United Nations Convention on Biodiversity executive secretary Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias from Brazil said, “I can’t comment on the issues between two countries. I represent the Brazil government no more. But I can tell you that the Nagoya Protocol is the answer to these issues, but not in retrospective effect, only for the future. Brazil had got different breeds of bulls almost 100 years ago. They have been very effective in Brazil due to the tropical climate. There were no national and international laws then. Now countries like India have national laws but they will be applicable only as long as it is in the country. Once the Nagoya Protocol comes into the picture, it will address this, but that’s in the future,”
He added, “For instance cashew has been brought from Brazil to India. Here it is widely grown now. Nothing can prevent two countries sitting and making agreements on their own. During colonial rule there was a lot of exchange of biological resources.” When asked about giving access to biological resources of developing countries without a proper system to monitor and identify bio-piracy he said, “The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing is the best answer to bio-piracy. Then any biological resource should be obtained legally.”