The BCCM international cooperation programme is being developed in respect of the principle of sustainable development set out in Agenda 21 ¹, and more particularly in compliance with the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity ² (CBD), and in accordance with other relevant international rules, mainly the TRIPs Agreement ³ and the Budapest Treaty ⁴.

BCCM combines its coherent approach to the various international agreements regulating exchange and the sustainable use of microbial resources, with a set of active partnerships for ex situ conservation and valorisation of microbial genetic resources.

BCCM participates in and initiates collaborations to develop a coherent set of legal as well as administrative instruments and recommendations facilitating access to microbial genetic resources, as access to microbes is a prerequisite for the advancement of bioscience.

Consequently, BCCM launched the concerted action ‘MOSAICC’ (Micro-Organisms Sustainable use and Access regulation International Code of Conduct). It translates the principles of the Convention on Biological Diversity into practical procedures designed to facilitate access to and transfer of microbial genetic resources. Funded by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research, MOSAICC is a voluntary code of conduct. The MOSAICC project involved 12 partners, including representatives from North and South, from the non-profit-making sector (e.g. government, culture collections, academics, NGOs) as well as from the commercial sector (e.g. pharmaceutical, chemical and food industry). The MOSAICC Code of Conduct is the result of five successive drafts improved through dialogue between MOSAICC partners and other experts invited to comment on the contents.

BCCM is actively seeking balanced cooperation with providers as well as users of microbial genetic resources and related information.

Consequently, BCCM is now developing pilot projects on international cooperation, as recommended by the Convention on Biological Diversity. More precisely, BCCM developed a common research programme on microbial resources with the People’s Republic of China, in the framework of a bilateral agreement and according to the principles of article 7 of the CBD, promoting the identification and monitoring of biodiversity. Similarly, in the framework of a bilateral agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco, BCCM launched a project with a network of Moroccan laboratories and the Moroccan Centre of Coordination and Planning of Scientific and Technical Research, and with the support of the Belgian Directorate-General for International Cooperation. This project aims to establish a national Moroccan culture collections network as an effective implementation of the directives of the CBD article 9 on the ex situ conservation of biological resources.

Likewise, with regard to the general global evolution of biological resources centres, in which bioinformatics is essential, BCCM seeks the development of communication tools designed to facilitate a balanced exchange of microbial genetic resources, related information, technology and know-how.

Therefore BCCM participates in the CABRI project (Common Access to Biological Resources and Information). CABRI linked microbial resources collections with bioinformatics centres to design, implement and maintain a public web-based catalogue and information service.

Furthermore, BCCM - as a consortium or through its individual collections - is involved in different forums and networks, participating in international organisations such as the European Culture Collections' Organisation (ECCO), the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC) and the UNESCO Microbial Resources Centres Network (MIRCEN).

BCCM is looking for well-balanced cooperation projects and collaborates with partners around the world, mainly on capacity building, exchange of technology and ex situ conservation of microbial resources.

Remarks

1. Document compiling the challenges and outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Earth Summit).
   
   
2. (Rio de Janeiro, 5 June 1992). This convention lays down new principles governing, among others, access to genetic resources and the fair and impartial sharing of benefits arising from the use of these resources.
   
   
3. Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (Marrakech, 15 April 1994). It develops standards and principles concerning the availability, scope and use of trade-related intellectual property rights, and sets up rules for effective and appropriate enforcement of these rights applying also to the use of biological resources.
   
   
4. Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Micro-organisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure (Budapest, 28 April 1977). It sets practical rules for patent procedure involving micro-organisms.