Biopiracy crackdown results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies, receives mixed reviews http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1230-morgan_biopiracy_brazil.

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Biopiracy crackdown results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies,

receives mixed reviews Penny Anderson Associates
Morgan Erickson-Davis, mongabay.com Ecology & Evironmental Consultancy Our
knowledge is your advantage
December 31, 2010 www.pennyanderson.com
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Biopiracy crackdown results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies, receives mixed reviews http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1230-morgan_biopiracy_brazil.html

The giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) is known for its mind-altering skin
secretions. Shamans in the Amazon rain forest have used this species in hunting
rituals. Photo by Rhett A. Butler.

The Brazilian government is stepping up anti-"biopiracy" measures and imposing

substantial fines on companies which make use of rare plants or animals without
giving adequate compensation to Brazil or its indigenous communities. The move
attracts criticism by some who believe that it hampers scientific research.

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Amazon.com
Brazil's unique species have been exploited for centuries by businesses which often
make fortunes while overlooking local communities. For instance, the slime from
Kambo frogs, found in the Amazon state of Acre, has been used by pharmaceutical
companies to develop anti-inflammatory drugs without granting Acre residents any POPULAR PAGES
of the profits. In the 1960s, the hypertension medication Captopril was developed by
the US drug company Squibb (now Bristol-Myers Squibb) using the venom of the
Brazilian viper - Bothrops jararaca. The venom causes a sudden, massive drop in
blood pressure and was used by Indigenous populations on their arrowheads. It
should be noted that actual snake venom and frog slime are not used in the
manufacturing of these drugs.

Brazil's anti-biopiracy initiative began in 2001 with a ruling creating the current
laws which control species use. The government will expand the program with a
project called "Operation New Direction" which may hike up fines to $29 million with
a possible loss of patents for companies found to be using species which they haven't
registered.

"Given that (fighting biopiracy) is a new process and that Brazil has one of the
biggest reserves of
biodiversity in the world, I
think most of this activity
is illegal, and we're going
to find those people,"

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Biopiracy crackdown results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies, receives mixed reviews http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1230-morgan_biopiracy_brazil.html

Bruno Barbosa, of the environmental oversight agency Ibama, told Reuters. Rainforests
Rain forests
Amazon deforestation Amazon Jungle
One of the largest fines imposed so far has been on the cosmetics company, Natura.
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The Brazilian company was fined $12.4 million for allegedly including unregistered
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genetic material in its products. Natura denies any wrongdoing and is appealing the
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fine.
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the fundamental principles of the Convention on Biological Diversity," Natura said in Congo rainforest
a statement. "Natura has been a pioneer in Brazil in reaching agreements to share Deforestation stats
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benefits with traditional communities." An All-Inclusive Yoga
News Retreat On The Banks
Critics say that the anti-biopiracy measures often make it impossible to ship samples Of The Amazon River
Most popular articles
abroad for medical analysis which could provide benefits for all. Zoological research www.jangalaretreat.com
Worth saving?
can also be hindered, inciting skepticism that the rules are applied too generally.
Forest conservation
Davlin Thomas
Earth Day
"The current law is very vague on a lot of points, it ends up classifying everybody as Extraordinary ideas
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illegitimate," Raul Telles do Valle who works with ISA, a think tank on social and Cell phones in Africa from obscure places.
environmental issues, told Reuters. "Just passing out fines under the existing Seniors helping Africa See the theatrical
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www.creativecaribbeannetwork.com
Palm oil
He believes that the measures should be more concerned with determining how to Amazon palm oil
Commercial Ship
compensate local populations from collective knowledge passed down over Future of the Amazon
Security
generations. Cane toads
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However, Barbosa maintains that the fight against biopiracy is important to Investing to save rainforests of Aden Embark
preserving sensitive environments and promoting fair profit distribution. Visiting the rainforest teams- Djibouti
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"This is going to enable concrete alternatives that substitute destruction of the Defaunation
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