BIODIVERSITY, GENETIC HERITAGE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY Legal aspects for scientific development. Section BIOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Abstract

Brazil is one of the 17 megadiverse countries on the planet. It is estimated that the number of known species is between 170 and 210 thousand known species, which corresponds to around 10% of all species already studied by mankind. Such biodiversity is not only of great value because it exists, but also represents a source of possible biopharmaceuticals that moves a millionaire market that, in 2006 alone, generated trillions in exports of medicinal plants in natura. In this sense, Law 13.123 / 2015 instituted strict rules for bioprospecting and studies of new biopharmaceuticals from all the national biodiversity and their indigenous, quilombola or associated traditional knowledge. What is undoubtedly important for the conservation of species in Brazil, however, this law only has action and efficiency within the national territory, not valid for research institutions outside Brazil. Therefore, this article is relevant for evaluating and providing subsidies on the law in question, through scientific articles, books and current legislation.