Protection of Traditional Knowledge, Genetic
Resources and Expressions of Folklore [ No. 16 of 2016
GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA
ACT
No. 16 of 2016
Date of Assent: 6th June, 2016
An Act to provide for a transparent legal framework for the
protection of, access to, and use of, traditional knowledge,
genetic resources and expressions of folklore, which also
guarantees equitable sharing of benefits and effective
participation of holders; to recognise the spiritual, cultural,
social, political and economic value of traditional
knowledge, genetic resources and expressions of folklore
of holders; to promote the preservation, wider application
and development of traditional knowledge, genetic
resources and expressions of folklore; recognise, protect
and support the inalienable rights of traditional
communities, individuals and groups over their traditional
knowledge, genetic resources and expressions of folklore;
to confer rights on traditional communities, individuals
and groups and promote the conservation and sustainable
utilisation of the country’s biodiversity resources; to
promote fair and equitable distribution of the benefits
derived from the exploitation of traditional knowledge,
genetic resources and expressions of folklore; to promote
the use of traditional knowledge, genetic resources and
expressions of folklore for the benefit of traditional
communities, the country and mankind in general; to
ensure that exploitation of traditional knowledge, genetic
resources and expressions of folklore takes place with
the prior informed consent of a traditional community,
individual or group; to prevent the granting of patents
based on traditional knowledge, genetic resources and
expressions of folklore without the prior informed consent
of a traditional community, individual or group; give effect
to the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation
(ARIPO) Swakopmund Protocol on the Protection of
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