Biodiversity Act, 2003. Country/Territory Bhutan Document type Legislation Date 2003 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Wild species & ecosystems Keyword Basic legislation Biodiversity Genetic resources Plant variety Wild fauna Wild flora Biotechnology Authorization/permit Offences/penalties Access and benefit-sharing PIC-prior informed consent Traditional knowledge/indigenous knowledge Geographical area Asia, Asia and the Pacific, Landlocked Developing Nations, Least Developed Countries, Southern Asia Abstract This Act implements principles and relevant provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The purposes of this Act are: to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of biochemical and genetic resources as well as the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization; to promote technology transfer and capacity building at the national and local levels; to protect and encourage cultural diversity giving value to the knowledge, innovation and practices of local communities; to recognize and protect the farmer’s and breeder’s rights; to make plant varieties subject to property rights; to prevent illegal access to genetic and biochemical resources; etc. Full text English