To ensure intellectual property system: Mines ministry arms staff, stakeholders to appropriate genetic resources.

The workshop was launched on behalf of the Minister, by the MINMIDT Secretary General, Oumar Ali.  

It was also attended by pharmacists, traditional practitioners, researchers, medical students, amongst other experts.

Speaking at the event, the minister’s representative acknowledged the importance of intellectual property system, which he said is a catalyst for development and a strategic tool for the development of researchers, inventors, innovators and creators. 

He then explained that yesterday’s workshop is an opportunity for the staff and other stakeholders to familiarise themselves with international, sub-regional and national legal instruments on genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as well as the many intellectual property issues.

“The exchanges that are about to take place between you, dear pharmacists, traditional practitioners, doctors, medical students, researchers, administrative authorities, experts in intellectual property and traditional medicine, are intended to edify you further on the importance of implementing the Model Laws relating to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, and to make you more aware of the advantages offered by intellectual property in the manufacture of plant-based medicines,” Oumar Ali.

Officials, participants immortalizing workshop in Yaounde

“According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD, a genetic resource is any material of plant, animal, microbial or other origin containing functional units of heredity of actual or potential value. The value of the genetic resource referred to in the above-mentioned Convention can be exploited in several sectors of activity, including the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, medicines, agri-food products, perfumes and the formulation of cosmetic products,” the minister’s representative noted.

Noting that Cameroon’s rich and diverse flora and fauna, he mentioned that the wealth of biodiversity has considerable social, economic, scientific and medicinal benefits for local populations.

“A number of research results based on genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge have made a remarkable contribution to the development of several sectors of activity, including health, the environment, pharmaceuticals, medicine, agriculture, agri-food, cosmetics, chemistry, biotechnology, and so on” he added.

The workshop was facilitated by experts from the Ministries of Mines, Industry and Technological as well as Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development.

MINMIDT DG, Oumar Ali, speaking to the press

One of the facilitators, Fabrice Tongko, explained that the workshop was being held barely days after the World Intellectual Property Organisation, WIPO, held its diplomatic conference on genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. 

The conference, which represented the final stage of negotiations begun two decades ago, led to the adoption of the first international treaty on intellectual property relating to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.

Tongko further stressed that “OAPI [African Intellectual Property Organisation] has a law that governs genetic resources and traditional knowledge applied in the 17-member states. Cameroon in 2021, adopted a law related to access to genetic resources and the sharing of the benefits of those resources”. 

This story first published in The Guardian Post issue No3127 of Friday May 31, 2024