A contact group convened under the framework of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture has met to discuss the standard material transfer agreement.

The group, which met in Hammamet, Tunisia from 18-22 July 2005, was tasked with negotiating a draft standard material transfer agreement for consideration by the first meeting of the International Treaty’s Governing Body. The standard material transfer agreement is the instrument for implementing the multilateral system of access and benefit-sharing, which is the core of the Treaty. Although many controversial issues remained outstanding, the meeting was considered to be a success, as the contact group resolved many non-controversial issues and set out the basic structure of the agreement. Remaining issues include: dispute settlement, including whether arbitration would be binding or not; the benefit-sharing method and payment; and an African proposal to add a legal person representing the Governing Body, as a third-party beneficiary, as part of the material transfer agreement to monitor its execution. Delegates agreed to hold a second meeting in late 2005 or early 2006, in time before the first session of the Governing Body to be held in June 2006. Report of the group.