Report of the Sixth Meeting of the CGIAR Genetic Resources Policy Committee

Main conclusions and recommendations of the sixth meeting of the CGIAR Genetic Resources Policy Committee (GRPC), held in London, September 1-3, 1997. The Committee reviewed the status of the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources of Food and Agriculture, and the active role in it of the Systemwide Genetic Resources Program (SGRP). It asked for a paper to be prepared on the CGIAR role in connection with "underutilized crops." The Committee advised the centers to be careful in activities concerning the policy and legal aspects of biosafety. There was a lengthy discussion on the CGIAR role in animal genetic resources, and another on intellectual property rights in the CGIAR. Based on the outcome of the workshop on ethics and equity in relation to genetic resources, the Committee prepared a draft set of ethical principles for the CGIAR (Annex 2), for wide circulation and revision following comments. It revised a paper on its own future functions, operation, and membership (Annex 3).Agenda document, CGIAR International Centers Week, October 1997.