A draft law aimed at strengthening Bahrain’s food security, protecting agricultural biodiversity, and supporting scientific research is set to be debated by the Shura Council on Sunday.
The legislation approving the GCC Unified System (Law) on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture has been backed by the Shura Council’s public utilities and environment affairs committee.
Plant genetic resources include seeds, tissues and pollen that contain the genetic material of plants. These resources form the foundation for food production and for developing new crop varieties with higher quality, improved disease resistance and better tolerance to climate change.
“If passed, the law will formally integrate Bahrain into the unified Gulf system for managing plant genetic resources, reinforcing regional co-operation in one of the most critical sectors for future stability and growth,” committee chairman Dr Mohammed Ali Hassan explained.
Under the bill, the responsible authority to apply the law will be designated by royal decree.
A national committee for plant genetic resources will also be established, and a licensing regime introduced for activities involving the collection, import, export or use of such resources. Fees for licences and services will be set by decision of the authority’s president, following Cabinet approval.
The draft law also provides a right of grievance against administrative decisions and allows appeals to the courts within 30 days. Penalties include up to one month in jail and/or a fine of up to BD1,000 for carrying out regulated activities without a licence, as well as confiscation or destruction of offending materials.
Dr Hassan sees the government-drafted bill as a step up in food and agricultural security.
He said the proposed legislation would ‘complete Bahrain’s national legislative framework in the field of plant genetic resources and place the kingdom at the forefront of regional efforts to preserve agricultural heritage and biodiversity’.
“This law establishes an integrated legal umbrella for documenting, protecting and sustainably utilising plant genetic resources, while guaranteeing fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use,” he added. “It is a vital pillar in reinforcing Bahrain’s food security and supporting the development of more resilient and productive crops.”
The committee studied the bill in two meetings, reviewing the draft law, the unified GCC system, legal opinions from the Shura Council’s legislative and legal affairs committee, comments from the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, and Parliament’s reason behind endorsement.
Dr Hassan said the committee was satisfied that the bill is ‘fully consistent with the Constitution and with Bahrain’s international and regional obligations’.
“It balances protection with development,” he noted. “It safeguards the kingdom’s rights over its local plant varieties, encourages responsible research and innovation, and opens the door to developing crops that can withstand harsh climatic conditions and contribute to higher domestic agricultural output.”
He stressed that the legislation would also help document and preserve traditional agricultural knowledge developed by Bahraini farmers over generations, ensuring it is not lost or exploited without proper authorisation.
The ministry’s Agriculture Under-Secretary Assem Abdullatif told the committee that the bill aligns with Bahrain’s accession to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and implements the GCC Supreme Council’s decision, issued at its 43rd session in December 2022, to adopt a binding unified law in this field.
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