The relationship between genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and intellectual property rights is among the most controversial agenda items in the negotiations of several international organizations. A key issues is illegal access and use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge, i.e., biopiracy. In many cases of illegal access, intellectual property rights are used to circumvent obligations derived from the Convention on Biological Diversity. Moreover, overbroad patents continue to be granted that adversely affect the sovereign rights of nations and indigenous and other local communities.
In the absence of a permanent international solution, there is a strong need for the initiation of a sustainability review of relevant international agreements in order to prevent illegal access and use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge.