Biological Resources and Benefit Sharing Act 2017 (Act 795), the most recent act established to protect the potential development of Malaysia’s biological resources and to prevent biopiracy.
Under the Act, any local or foreign individual or corporation that intends to access Biological Resources or Traditional Knowledge associated with Biological Resources for commercial, potentially commercial or non-commercial purposes must obtain a permit. Failure to obtain a permit may result in a penalty being imposed on the relevant party. Biological Resources covered in Act 795 include genetic, plant, organism, microorganism and traditional knowledge.
As per shown below is an overview flowchart of the Act 795 process, subject to any individual intended to access biological resource or traditional knowledge associated with biological resources.
Overview flowchart of the Act 795
