The conservation and utilisation of genetic resources is an integrated and important part of the Strategy for a Sustainable Nordic Region. As a follow-up to this overarching, crosscutting strategy, the Strategy for Conservation of Genetic Resources in the Nordic Region 2001–2004 elaborates and specifies the goals and measures in the field of genetic resources. It recognises a need for development of a common attitude at Nordic level regarding how the Convention on Biological Diversity is to be interpreted in relation to the resources stored in the joint gene bank and networks. The strategy suggests an ad hoc working group instructed to submit proposals on how the Nordic region is to interpret the provisions in international legal instruments within the framework of cooperation on genetic resources. On this background, the ad hoc working group has delivered this Report to the Nordic Genetic Resources Council.The Report addresses various aspects related to rights and access to genetic resources in the Nordic countries.

The report examines all genetic resources, while pointing out relevant differences between types of resources. The report studies the rights and access to the genetic resources managed by the Nordic Gene Bank. It also provides recommendations and alternatives for rights and access to genetic resources within the Nordic countries. Itgives an overview of the need for and means of implementing the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and other international agreements in the Nordic countries. The report further analyses how rights and access to genetic resources relate to international law on intellectual property rights applied to genes and living organisms.