India tops global list in issuing compliance certificates under Nagoya Protocol

India has emerged as the leading country in issuing Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) under the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS), accounting for more than half of the certificates issued globally, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) said on Tuesday. According to the latest data available on the ABS Clearing-House, India has issued 3,561 IRCCs out of a global total of 6,311 — over 56 per cent — placing it well ahead of other countries in implementing the protocol.

India emerges as Global Leader in issuing Compliance Certificates under Nagoya Protocol

According to the latest data on the ABS Clearing-House, India has issued 3,561 Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) out of a global total of 6,311, placing it… pic.twitter.com/QHkwLqA9Av

— PIB India (@PIB_India) March 31, 2026

Of the 142 countries registered on the ABS Clearing-House platform, only 34 have issued IRCCs so far. France follows India with 964 certificates, while Spain (320), Argentina (257), Panama (156) and Kenya (144) are among the other contributors. The Nagoya Protocol requires countries granting access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge to issue IRCCs as proof that prior informed consent has been obtained and mutually agreed terms have been established between users and providers. These certificates are then recorded on the ABS Clearing-House, a global platform aimed at ensuring transparency.