IFRA Standards Library
IFRA
Standards Library
Supporting the fair use of genetic resources
The Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), adopted in 2010. It provides a legal framework to regulate access to genetic resources, ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization. Companies that use genetic resources or associated traditional knowledge must navigate this complex legal landscape, complying with access and benefit-sharing (ABS) regulations globally.
Nagoya in detail
Industry Guidance and Collaboration
IFRA supports fragrance companies with detailed guidance developed jointly with the International Organization of the Flavor Industry (IOFI). This comprehensive document helps businesses manage the complexities of ABS rules in multiple jurisdictions, including Brazil, the European Union, India, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States.
Through clear and practical instructions, the guidance helps fragrance companies sustainably source materials while respecting global biodiversity commitments.
Educational resources
IFRA and IOFI offer educational resources to support industry compliance:
The guidance document, updated periodically, is available to IFRA members, providing specific details on compliance within key jurisdictions.
An informative webinar, first held in May 2020, explains how fragrance companies can practically implement the Nagoya Protocol regulations, featuring insights from experts across industry and legal fields.
Webinar on the Nagoya Protocol
Guidance documents and annexes
The IFRA-IOFI Guidance document and its Annexes help companies navigate the wide variety of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) regulations that have arisen worldwide.
“The Nagoya Protocol creates clarity for companies and fairness for communities. The fragrance industry fully supports these goals, working proactively to respect global biodiversity while delivering high-quality fragrance materials.”
Matthias Vey, Vice President, Scientific Affairs
06 October 2025
News
Engaging with globally acting partners for protection of biodiversity
The Nagoya protocol, which aims for ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits that arise from the utilization of genetic resources in the supply chain, can be challenging from an implementation point of view when it comes to local/regional legislation.
05 August 2025 15:00 - 18:00
Events
FICCI-IFRA Webinar on Impact of the New Biological Diversity Act, 2023 & Biodiversity Rule, 2024.
The Biological Diversity Act, 2023, marks a major reform aimed at strengthening biodiversity governance in India. With a renewed focus on ease of compliance, conservation, and sustainable use, the Act has now been further simplified and operationalized through the Biodiversity Rules, 2024, making it easier for stakeholders to understand and adopt.
13 June 2025
News
IFRA-IOFI LATAM Week 2025
The joint annual event, held this year in Santiago de Chile, June 10 – 12, strengthened regional value chain engagement in Latin America