7 April 2011: Ecuador and the Central African Republic (CAR) became the latest countries to sign the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Ecuador signed on 1 April 2011 and CAR on 6 April. These signatures follow the signing of the Protocol by Colombia, Yemen, Algeria, Brazil, Mexico and Rwanda in February 2011, bringing the total number of signatories to eight.

Concluded during the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD (COP 10), held in October 2010, in Nagoya, Japan, the Nagoya Protocol will enter into force 90 days after the deposit of the 50th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. [CBD Press Release]