A legislation aimed at strengthening Bahrain’s food security, protecting agricultural biodiversity and regulating the use of plant genetic resources has been given the go-ahead by the Shura Council.
The bill endorses the GCC Unified System (Law) on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
Among the bill’s key objectives are surveying, collecting, classifying and documenting local plant genetic resources, protecting them from degradation, and ensuring their sustainability for future generations. It also confirms Bahrain’s ownership rights over local plant varieties.
The unified system is the result of joint Gulf efforts to develop the agricultural sector and encourage scientific research into plant genetic resources, while guaranteeing benefit-sharing among member states.
It has been referred to His Majesty King Hamad for ratification, following Parliament’s earlier endorsement.
“There will be clear punishments as well as incentives for those involved in the agriculture sector,” said Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry Agriculture Under-Secretary Assem Abdullatif.
He added that the legislation aligns with Bahrain’s accession to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and implements a decision by GCC leaders to adopt a binding unified law in this field.
“Each member state will introduce its own implementation bylaws once the unified framework is approved,” he said.
“This system will organise the way plant genetic resources are collected, used and exchanged, while ensuring the protection of national rights and the fair sharing of benefits.”
Plant genetic resources include seeds, tissues and pollen that carry the genetic material.
They are essential for food production and for developing new crop varieties that are higher yielding, disease resistant and better adapted to climate change.
Committee chairman Dr Mohammed Ali Hassan said the law would place the kingdom at the forefront of regional efforts to preserve agricultural heritage and biodiversity.
“This law is a vital pillar in reinforcing Bahrain’s food security and supporting the development of more resilient and productive crops,” he said.
Under the bill, a royal decree will designate the authority responsible for applying the law. A national committee for plant genetic resources will be established, alongside a licensing regime covering the collection, import, export or use of such resources.
Licence and service fees will be set by decision of the authority’s president after Cabinet approval.
The draft law also provides a right of grievance against administrative decisions, with the possibility of appeal before 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, in addition to the confiscation or destruction of offending materials.
Dr Hassan said the bill safeguards national rights over 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 also stressed that the law would help document and preserve traditional agricultural knowledge developed by Bahraini farmers over generations, ensuring it is not lost or exploited without proper authorisation.
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