21 December 2012: Panama and Mauritius have become the 10th and 11th countries respectively to ratify the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Panama ratified the Protocol on 12 December and Mauritius on 17 December of 2012. Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, India, Jordan, Lao PDR, Mexico, Rwanda and the Seychelles have already ratified. The Nagoya Protocol will enter into force 90 days after the 50th ratification. [CBD Press Release][Status of Signatures and Ratifications][Protocol Text]