Standard Material Transfer Agreement for Plant Genetic Resources
In 2004 Germany acceded to the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The Treaty specifies the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity, especially with regard to breeding and growing crops. It is aimed at conserving biological diversity and, in this way, it contributes to securing food for the world’s population.
The contracting parties pledged to provide easier access to certain plant genetic resources (Gesetz zu dem Internationalen Vertrag vom 3. November 2001).
To support these regulations the Standard Material Transfer Agreement was concluded in June 2006 on which the transfer of such genetic resources is to be based. The Agreement is valid only in the official languages of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Standardisierte Materialübertragungs-Vereinbarung).
The Agreement is to be applied solely to the transfer of material covered by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.