HOW THE NAGOYA PROTOCOL AFFECTS RAHN-COSMETIC ACTIVES

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization started with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1993. The Nagoya Protocol went into effect in October of 2014 with nearly 100 countries signing. 

Due to that specific time definition, there are regulations that require collections to have documented evidence of Prior Informed Consent (PIC) from providers, and Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT) of benefits, if collections were made after October 2014. Sources that were accessed before this date are not covered by the protocol and the terms and conditions of use were governed by the laws and agreements that were in place at the time of access.

GOALS

Goal of the Nagoya Protocol is to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. To regulate these aspects, every signed country established specific terms, including different application procedures and different permits. These terms are defined by:

- Access to Genetic Resources: Establishing a legal framework for accessing genetic resources from the respective country. This means that if a company or researcher wants to use genetic resources, they need to get permission.

- Benefit-Sharing: Ensuring that benefits (monetary or non-monetary) derived from the use of genetic resources are shared fairly with the people providing the resources. This could include sharing research results, technology transfer, or financial benefits, depending on the type of agreements made.

Access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their use are key aspects that make up the ABS (Access and Benefit-Sharing) framework that every researcher and company must comply to.

FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO YOUR SKIN: The journey of MYRAMAZE^®, MYRAMAZE^®-ESSENCE and MYRAMAZE^®-PURE

We, at RAHN-Cosmetic Actives, take the ABS regulations and Nagoya Protocol very seriously and due to that, we are dedicated to educate our customers about the requirements of our ABS Products, such as the MYRAMAZE^® product family.

All MYRAMAZE^® products are produced from the raw material Myrothamnus flabellifolia, which is sourced in South Africa. As such, it falls under the regulations of the Nagoya Protocol and requires Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) regulations. But how does it work in this specific case?

- Our South African partner collects and processes the raw material in South Africa. This partner holds a bioprospecting permit, as well as prior informed consent (PIC) and mutually agreed terms (MAT) with the local community.

- The South African partner sends the material to the Swiss intermediary, who makes a final quality check before forwarding the material to RAHN-Cosmetic Actives.

Since we conducted research and development with the plant material for the production of MYRAMAZE^®, all three companies (the South African partner, the Swiss intermediary, and RAHN-Cosmetic Actives) had to submit a joint application in South Africa. All three partners are covered by the Integrated Biotrade and Bioprospecting Permit from the South African Government.

This application was approved on the condition that RAHN-Cosmetic Actives customers sign an MTA, ensuring the material is used solely for integrating it into cosmetic products. Research for cosmetic claim generation is also permitted.
The MTA specifies that there are no financial or regulatory obligations to South Africa for RAHN-Cosmetic Actives customers.

Curious about how the mentioned document looks like? No worries, transparency is our strength:

IMPACT OF ABS ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Within the framework of the Access and Benefit Sharing agreements surrounding the MYRAMAZE^® product family, our valued partner used the funds gathered from MYRAMAZE^® to support three projects in South Africa. It's important to highlight that the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) agreement provides additional benefits to the local community, beyond the wages paid to the harvesters.

In our case, the compensation received by the harvesters is several times greater than what ABS contributes to the local community. The harvesting and processing of Myrothamnus not only generates income for the workers but also provides an additional revenue stream for the local community.

Replacement of a water tank for drinking water

The community's borehole, equipped with a pump, prepaid electricity meter, and a 5000-litre water tank, serves those without access to public drinking water and acts as a backup supply. Initially, the tank fall of the supporting structure during heavy wind, destroying the tank and the supporting structure. A stronger stand was built, but funds for a new tank were lacking. Money from the ABS found allowed the purchase and installation of a new tank and a stronger water pump.

Replacement of a fence around the graveyard

The graveyard, covering about one hectare, required a new fence due to the old one being rusty and ineffective, allowing livestock to frequently enter. To address this, the graveyard has been refenced, and a new gate has been installed at the main entrance, ensuring it is now secure from unwanted intrusions.

Construction of a meeting room for council meetings

Village elders have long dreamed of having a communal room for council meetings and community discussions. Currently, meetings are held under a tree on a designated fenced plot. However, this setup is impractical during bad weather, such as rain or wind. The goal is to build a room and an open, covered area to facilitate meetings in all weather conditions.