PORTUGALDECREE-LAW NO. 118/2002April 20, 2002The sovereign rights of States over their genetic resources and the fair and equitable allocation of benefits arising from their use are specified in the Convention on Biological Diversity, under which all Contracting Parties shall, as far as possible and as appropriate, promote the preparation of legislation and other regulatory provisions to protect species diversity and genetic resources. Furthermore, paragraph 203(e) of the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, adopted by the FAO International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources in Leipzig in 1996, provides that governments shall consider legislative measures allowing the distribution and commercialization of local varieties. Among these resources, and specifically with respect to plant material of agrarian, agroforest and landscape interest, local varieties constitute a distinct part within...