Interactive ABS help tool updated

The European Commission published a revised EU Guidance document in 2021, providing more detailed information and practical examples on the scope and user obligations of the EU ABS Regulation (Regulation (EU) 511/2014).

The ABS Focal Point has now incorporated this additional information into the ABS help tool. Questions were added on whether the genetic resource is utilised in the sense of the EU ABS Regulation (‘research and development’) and whether the genetic resource is obtained as a commodity without (subsequent) research and development. Some categories of genetic resources or activities with genetic resources may not be in scope of the EU ABS Regulation. The updated help tool highlights these categories and refers to relevant sections of the revised EU Guidance document. For more information on new content in the EU Guidance, see: ‘Revised EU Guidance document officially published’.

In addition to helping you determine whether your activities with genetic resources are in scope of the EU ABS Regulation, the help tool provides a short overview of your obligations under the Regulation if your activities are within scope. The page also contains a printable flowchart that is to be used in combination with the information on the page, and a list which explains important terms used in the tool.
You can find the updated help tool on the page ‘Tool to help you comply with the EU ABS Regulation’.