1.1 to promote the conservation, collection and use of plant genetic resources from their natural habitats or surroundings, in ways that respect the environment and local traditions and cultures;

1.2 to foster the direct participation of farmers, scientists and organizations in countries where germplasm is collected, in programmes and actions aimed at the conservation and use of plant genetic resources;

1.3 to avoid genetic erosion and permanent loss of resources caused by excessive or uncontrolled collection of germplasm;

1.4 to promote the safe exchange of plant genetic resources, as well as the exchange of related information and technologies;

1.5 to help ensure that any collecting of germplasm is undertaken in full respect of national laws, local customs, rules and regulations;

1.6 to provide appropriate standards of conduct and to define obligations of collectors;

1.7 to promote the sharing of benefits derived from plant genetic resources between the donors and users of germplasm, related information and technologies by suggesting ways in which the users may pass on a share of the benefits to the donors, taking into account the costs of conserving and developing germplasm;

1.8 to bring recognition to the rights and needs of local communities and farmers, and those who manage wild and cultivated plant genetic resources and in particular to promote mechanisms:

2.1 "Collector" means a legal or natural person that collects plant genetic resources and related information.

2.2 "Curator" means a legal or natural person that conserves and manages plant genetic resources and related information.

2.3 "Donor" means a country or legal or natural person that makes available plant genetic resources for collection.

2.4 "Farmers' Rights" means the rights arising from the past, present and future contributions of farmers in conserving, improving, and making available plant genetic resources, particularly those in the centres of origin/diversity. These rights are vested in the International Community, as trustee for present and future generations of farmers, for the purpose of ensuring full benefits to farmers, and supporting the continuation of their contributions, as well as the attainment of the overall purposes of the International Undertaking

2.5 "Ex situ conservation" means the conservation of plant genetic resources outside their natural habitat.

2.6 "Genetic erosion" means loss of genetic diversity.

2.7 "In situ conservation" means the conservation of plant genetic resources in the areas where they have naturally evolved, and, in the case of cultivated species or varieties, in the surroundings where they have developed their distinctive properties.

2.8 "Plant genetic resources" means germplasm or genetic material of actual or potential value.

2.9 "Plant germplasm" or "genetic material" means the reproductive or vegetative propagating material of plants.

2.10 "Sponsor" means a legal or natural person that sponsors, financially or otherwise a plant collecting mission.

2.11 "User" means a legal or natural person that utilizes and benefits from plant genetic resources and related information.

3.1 The Code is voluntary.

3.2 The code recognizes that nations have sovereign rights over their plant genetic resources in their territories and it is based on the principle according to which the conservation and continued availability of plant genetic resources is a common concern of humankind. In executing these rights, access to plant genetic resources should not be unduly restricted.

3.3 The Code is addressed primarily to governments. All relevant legal and natural persons are also invited to observe its provisions, in particular those dealing with plant exploration and plant collection, agricultural and botanical activities and research on endangered species or habitat conservation, research institutes, botanical gardens, harvesting of wild plant resources, agro-industry including pharmaceutical plants and the seed trade.

3.4 The provisions of the Code should be implemented through collaborative action by governments, appropriate organizations and professional societies, field collectors and their sponsors, and curators and users of plant germplasm.

3.5 FAO and other competent organizations, are invited to promote observance of the Code.

3.6 The Code provides a set of general principles which governments may wish to use in developing their national regulations, or formulating bilateral agreements on the collection of germplasm.

4.1 The Code describes the shared responsibilities of collectors, donors, sponsors, curators and users of germplasm so as to ensure that the collection, transfer and use of plant germplasm is carried out with the maximum benefit to the international community, and with minimal adverse effects on the evolution of crop plant diversity and the environment. While initial responsibility rests with field collectors and their sponsors, obligations should extend to parties who fund or authorize collecting activities, or donate, conserve or use germplasm. The Code emphasizes the need for cooperation and a sense of reciprocity among donors, curators and users of plant genetic resources. Governments should consider taking appropriate action to facilitate and promote observance of this Code by sponsors, collectors, curators and users of germplasm operating under their jurisdiction.

4.2 The Code should enable national authorities to permit collecting activities within its territories expeditiously. It recognizes that national authorities are entitled to set specific requirements and conditions for collectors and sponsors and that sponsors and collectors are obliged to respect all relevant national laws as well as adhering to the principles of this Code.

4.3 The Code is to be implemented within the context of the FAO Global System on Plant Genetic Resources, including the International Undertaking and its annexes. In order to promote the continued availability of germplasm for plant improvement programmes on an equitable basis governments and users of germplasm should endeavour to give practical expression to the principles of Farmers' Rights.

5.1 The Code is to be implemented in harmony with:

6.1 States have the sovereign right, and accept the responsibility, to establish and implement national policies for the conservation and use of their plant genetic resources, and within this framework, should set up a system for the issuance of permits to collectors.

6.2 Governments should designate the authority competent for issuing permits. This authority should inform proposed collectors, sponsors, and the other agencies of the government's rules and regulations in this matter, and of the approval process to be followed, and of follow-up action to be taken.

(a) undertake to respect the relevant national laws;

(b) demonstrate knowledge of, and familiarity with, the species to be collected, their distribution and methods of collection;

(c) provide indicative plans for the field mission - including provisional route, estimated timing of expedition, the types of material to be collected, species and quantities - and their plans for evaluation, storage and use of the material collected; where possible, the sort of benefits the host country may expect to derive from the collection of the germplasm should be indicated;

(d) notify the host country of the kind of assistance, that may be required to facilitate the success of the mission;

(e) indicate, if the host country so desires, plans for cooperation with national scholars, scientists, students, non-governmental organizations and others who may assist or benefit from participation in the field mission or its follow-up activities;

(f) list, so far as it is known, the national and foreign curators to whom the germplasm and information is intended to be distributed on the completion of the mission; and

(g) supply such personal information as the host country may require.

(a) acknowledge the application, indicating the estimated time needed to examine it;

(b) communicate to the collectors and sponsors of the proposed collecting mission its decision. In case of a positive decision, conditions of collaboration be established as soon as possible before the mission arrives in the country, or begins field work. If the decision is to prohibit or restrict the mission, whenever possible, the reasons should be given, and where appropriate, an opportunity should be given to modify the application.

(c) indicate, when applicable, what categories and quantities of germplasm may or may not be collected or exported, and those which are required for deposit within the country; indicate areas and species which are governed by special regulation;

(d) inform the applicant of any restrictions on travel or any modification of plans desired by the host country;

(e) state any special arrangement or restriction placed on the distribution or use of the germplasm, or improved materials derived from it;

(f) if it so desired, designate a national counterpart for the field mission, and/or for subsequent collaboration;

(g) define any financial obligation to be met by the applicant including possible national participation in the collecting team, and other services to be provided; and

(h) provide the applicant with the relevant information regarding the country, its genetic resources policy, germplasm management system, quarantine procedures, and all relevant laws and regulations. Particular attention should be drawn to the culture and the society of the areas through which the collectors will be travelling.

9.1 Upon arrival in the host country, collectors should acquaint themselves with all research results, or work in progress in the country, that might have a bearing on the mission

9.2 Before field work begins, collectors and their national collaborators should discuss, and to the extent possible, decide on practical arrangements including:

10.1 Collectors should respect local customs, traditions, and values, and property rights and should demonstrate a sense of gratitude towards local communities, especially if use is made of local knowledge on the characteristics and value of germplasm. Collectors should respond to their requests for information, germplasm or assistance, to the extent feasible.

10.2 In order not to increase the risk of genetic erosion, the acquisition of germplasm should not deplete the populations of the farmers' planting stocks or wild species, or remove significant genetic variation from the local gene pool.

10.3 When collecting cultivated or wild genetic resources, it is desirable that the local communities and farmers concerned be informed about the purpose of the mission, and about how and where they could request and obtain samples of the collected germplasm. If requested, duplicate samples should be also left with them.

10.4 Whenever germplasm is collected, the collector should systematically record the passport data, and describe in detail the plant population, its diversity, habitat and ecology, so as to provide curators and users of germplasm with an understanding of its original context. For this purpose, as much as local knowledge about the resources (including observations on environmental adaptation and local methods and technologies of preparing and using the plant) should be also documented; photographs may be of special value

11.1 Upon the completion of the field mission, collectors and their sponsors should:

11.2 Collectors should take steps to promote observance of the Code by the curators and users to whom they have passed the germplasm which they have collected.

12.1 Sponsors should take steps to ensure, as far as is possible and appropriate, that collectors of collecting missions which they sponsor abide by the Code, particularly Articles 9, 10 and 11.

12.2 Sponsors should, as far as is possible and appropriate, establish agreements with curators of the germplasm collected under missions that they sponsor to ensure that curators abide by the Code, particularly Article 13. Such agreements should, as far as is possible and appropriate, ensure that subsequent curators and users of the collected germplasm also abide by the Code.

13.1 In order to be able to identify in the future the origin of the samples, curators should ensure that the collectors' original identification numbers, or codes, continue to be associated with the samples to which they refer.

13.2 Curators of the collected germplasm, should take practical steps to ensure, as far as is possible and appropriate, that future enquiries from the local communities and farmers who have provided the original material, and the host country, are responded to, and the samples of the plant germplasm collected are supplied upon request.

13.3 Curators should take practical steps, inter alia by the use of material transfer agreements, to promote the objectives of this Code including the sharing of benefits derived from collected germplasm by the users with the local communities, farmers and host countries as indicated in Article 14.

(a) facilitating access to new, improved varieties and other products, on mutually agreed terms;

(b) support for research of relevance to conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources, including community-based, conventional and new technologies, as well as conservation strategies, for both ex situ and in situ conservation;

(c) training, at both the institutional and farmer levels, to enhance local skills in genetic resources conservation, evaluation, development, propagation and use;

(d) facilitate the transfer of appropriate technology for the conservation and use of plant genetic resources;

(e) support for programmes to evaluate and enhance local land races and other indigenous germplasm, so as to encourage the optimal use of plant genetic resources at national, sub-national, and farmers and community level and to encourage conservation;

(f) any other appropriate support for farmers and communities for conservation of indigenous germplasm of the type collected by the mission; and

(g) scientific and technical information obtained from the germplasm.

15.1 Governments should periodically inform the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources of actions taken with regard to the application of this Code. When appropriate, this may be effected in the context of the yearly reports provided under Article 11 of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources.

15.2 Governments should inform the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources of any decision to prohibit or restrict proposed collecting missions.

15.3 In cases of non-observance by a collector or sponsor of the rules and regulations of a host country regarding the collecting and transfer of plant genetic resources, or the principles of this Code, the government may wish to inform the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources. The collector and sponsor should receive copies of this communication, and have the right to reply to the host country with copy to the FAO Commission. At the request of collectors or their sponsors, FAO may provide a certificate stating that no unresolved complaints are outstanding about them under this Code.

16.1 Appropriate national authorities and the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources should periodically review the relevance and effectiveness of the Code. The Code should be considered a dynamic text that may be brought up to date as required, to take into account technical, economic, social, ethical and legal developments and constraints.

16.2 Relevant professional associations and other similar bodies accepting the principles embodied in this Code may wish to establish peer review ethics committees to consider their members' compliance with the Code.

16.3 At a suitable time, it may be desirable to develop procedures for monitoring and evaluating the observance of the principles embodied in this Code, under the auspices of the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources which, where invited to do so by the parties concerned, may settle differences that may arise.