Membership: WIPO, Paris

Provisions until now: Plant or animal varieties and biological processes for obtaining plants or animals are excluded from patent protection, as are inventions contrary to morality or public order. Microbiological processes and their products are patentable. Access to Genetic Resources, The National Agency for the Conservation of Nature within the Ministry of Agriculture, is tasked to create a National Council on Genetic Resources. As part of this task, an administrative order spelling out the conditions for access to genetic resources has to be issued. The order will cover conditions for access, issuing of bioprospecting permits, and the national collection/conservation/use of genetic resources. The regulation has to deal with genetic resources under both ex situ and in situ conditions.

Sources: Alan Jacobs (ed.), Patents Throughout the World, Clark, Boardman & Callaghan, New York, Release #52, March 1996. - Robert Ali Brac de la Perrière, personal communication, 30 August 1997.