Indigenous Knowledge Systems IP and Commercialisation Framework

Description

South Africa is signatory to the CBD and Nagoya Protocol, requiring formal access and benefit-sharing (ABS) frameworks for commercialising indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) in biodiversity products and traditional medicine. The IP Laws Amendment Act (2013) created an IKS database through CIPC, but implementation has been slow. The rooibos ABS agreement (2019), which secured R1.5 million in annual payments to San and Khoikhoi communities, provides a working model. The Hoodia cactus case illustrated biopiracy risks where SA failed to protect community interests. The DSI's revised IKS Policy (2023) needs legislative backing through the Traditional Knowledge Bill, in draft since 2017. Parliamentary Committee on Trade and Industry BRRRs noted the backlog of IKS protection cases and the absence of a funded NIPMO-equivalent for traditional knowledge management.

Committee sittings this reform was drawn from, most recent first. Each row opens the meeting on this site; the PMG link goes to the source record.

• Science, Technology and Innovation

  20 May 2025

  Indigenous Knowledge Systems; Smart Village Initiative

  PMG record ↗

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