The contribution of biopiracy to the loss of a significant fraction of revenue due to Sri Lanka from products originating from country’s biodiversity has so far escaped, experts revealed recently.
The above was discussed at a workshop on biopiracy, organized by Lanka Nature Conservationists at the National Library and Documentation Services Board. Biopiracy refers to taking of the exclusive monopoly rights by individuals, companies or institutions of one country, over the biological material of another country. This is different to bio theft, which involves smuggling out biological material.
“Patents are the main tool used for biopiracy. Currently, there are over 500 foreign patents and pending patents from plant material originating from Sri Lanka, which can be considered biopiracy involving Sri Lanka,” said Environmentalist and Attorney- at – Law, Jagath Gunawardana, in his lecture. Gunawardana added that, of this, the largest number of patents and pending applications are for Kotalahimbutu, with the number of patents detrimental to Sri Lanka reaching 136.
Gunawardana further said these patents can cover a biological entity or biological material directly or obliquely.
Indigenous knowledge is also stolen in the guise of experiments, to learn active ingredients and beneficial properties of these plant material. This knowledge can save up to 99 percent of the research process during the first stage of production as well as cost, at times, said Lanka Nature Conservationists, President, Samantha Gunasekara.
Biodiversity Secretariat, Director, Padma Abeykoon said that to counter biopiracy, drafting of an Access and Benefit Sharing Policy has been completed and is pending approval by the authorities.