Protection of Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Expressions of Folklore Act, 2016 (No. 16 of 2016). Country/Territory Zambia Document type Legislation Date 2016 Source FAO, FAOLEX Long titleAn Act to provide for a transparent legal framework for the protection of, access to, and use of, traditional knowledge, genetic resources and expressions of folklore, which also guarantees equitable sharing of benefits and effective participation of holders; to recognise the spiritual, cultural, social, political and economic value of traditional knowledge, genetic resources and expressions of folklore of holders; to promote the preservation, wider application and development of traditional knowledge, genetic resources and expressions of folklore; recognise, protect and support the inalienable rights of traditional communities, individuals and groups over their traditional knowledge, genetic resources and expressions of folklore; to confer rights on traditional communities, individuals and groups and promote the conservation and sustainable utilisation of the country’s biodiversity resources; to promote fair and equitable distribution of the benefits derived from the exploitation of traditional knowledge, genetic resources and expressions of folklore; to promote the use of traditional knowledge, genetic resources and expressions of folklore for the benefit of traditional communities, the country and mankind in general; to ensure that exploitation of traditional knowledge, genetic resources and expressions of folklore takes place with the prior informed consent of a traditional community, individual or group; to prevent the granting of patents based on traditional knowledge, genetic resources and expressions of folklore without the prior informed consent of a traditional community, individual or group; give effect to the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) Swakopmund Protocol on the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Folklore, 2010, the World Trade Organisation Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS), 1994 and any other relevant international treaty or convention to which Zambia is a State Party; and to provide for matters incidental to, or connected with, the foregoing. Subject Agricultural & rural development, Livestock, Cultivated plants, Wild species & ecosystems Keyword Traditional knowledge/indigenous knowledge Access and benefit-sharing Traditional rights/customary rights Cultural heritage Genetic resources PIC-prior informed consent Biodiversity Basic legislation Endangered species Protection of species Geographical area Africa, Eastern Africa, Landlocked Developing Nations, Least Developed Countries Abstract The Act concerns protection of traditional knowledge (including knowledge relating to sustainable agriculture and biodiversity-related knowledge) and cultural expressions in Zambia. This Act protects— (a) a holder against infringement of the holder’s rights in relation to traditional knowledge, genetic resources and expressions of folklore; (b) traditional knowledge and expressions of folklore against misappropriation, misuse and unlawful exploitation; (c) an equitable balance between the rights and interests of holders and users; (d) genetic resources found in-situ and ex-situ against misappropriation and illegal exploitation; and (e) improper grant and exercise of intellectual property rights in traditional knowledge, genetic resources and expressions of folklore. Despite anything to the contrary, this Act shall not apply to— (a) the access, use and exchange of traditional knowledge, genetic resources and expressions of folklore by an owner or among traditional communities, as the case may be; and (b) the sale of produce of biological resources for direct consumption that do not involve the use of genetic resources. A “holder” means a traditional community, an individual or a group, irrespective of the pattern of ownership, and who is the owner of the traditional knowledge, genetic resource or expression of folklore in a traditional and intergenerational context who has a right over or to whom traditional knowledge, a genetic resource or expression of folklore belongs to, in accordance with customary laws and practices. Full text English Website www.zambialii.org