12. pants

Šī Saprašanās memoranda depozitārijs

a) Šī Saprašanās memoranda oriģināls un visi tā

grozījumi, un atbilstoši tam izdarītās deklarācijas tiks

uzglabāti pie tās organizācijas izpilddirektora

(ģenerāldirektora), kura ir atbildīga par ECPGR

sekretariāta pakalpojumu nodrošināšanu. Pašreiz ECPGR

sekretariāta pakalpojumus nodrošina Bioversity International.

b) Valstis un reģionālas organizācijas, kas ir tiesīgas

dalībai AEGIS, var kļūt par AEGIS dalībniekiem,

parakstot šī Saprašanās memoranda oriģinālu, kas glabājas

pie tās organizācijas izpilddirektora (ģenerāldirektora), kura ir

atbildīga par ECPGR sekretariāta pakalpojumu

nodrošināšanu, vai parakstot šī Saprašanās memoranda kopiju, ko

autentificējis tās organizācijas izpilddirektors

(ģenerāldirektors), kura ir atbildīga par ECPGR

sekretariāta pakalpojumu nodrošināšanu, kā īstu

kopiju.

Paraksts un datums

(Valsts pārstāvja (valsts) vai pārstāvja (reģionāla organizācija)

vārds, uzvārds un amats)

PIELIKUMS

AEGIS Asociētās dalības līgums

Šis Līgums tiek noslēgts starp (institūcijas

nosaukums), kura ir tiesīga institūcija Saprašanās memoranda

par Eiropas integrētās gēnu banku sistēmas (AEGIS)

(institūcija) izveidošanu 9.panta izpratnē un

[AEGIS] ECPGR nacionālo koordinatoru (koordinatora

vārds un institūcija) valstī (valsts nosaukums), kurā institūcija

atrodas (nacionālais koordinators).

1. Institūcija ar šo

a. piekrīt kļūt par AEGIS asociēto

dalībnieku;

b. uzņemas šādus AEGIS asociētā dalībnieka

pienākumus:

i) konsultējoties ar attiecīgo AEGIS dalībnieku

ar nacionālā ECPGR koordinatora starpniecību,

identificēt viņu rīcībā esošo paraugu klāstā tos paraugus,

kuri nav apgrūtināti ne ar kādām trešās puses saistībām vai

ierobežojumiem un kuri atbilst ECPGR Vadības komitejas

pieņemtajām vispārējām atlases prasībām, lai to varētu virzīt

reģistrācijai kā Eiropas paraugu;

ii) pārvaldīt Eiropas paraugus savās institūcijās

saskaņā ar AEGIS mērķiem un Vispārējiem principiem, kuri ir

piemērojami Eiropas paraugiem AEGIS ietvaros, kā tas ir noteikts

šī Līguma pielikumā, tā kā šie mērķi un Vispārējie principi var

tikt laiku pa laikam grozīti;

iii) nodrošināt savu Eiropas paraugu

ilgtermiņa saglabāšanu un/vai uzturēšanu saskaņā ar

apstiprinātajiem standartiem;

iv) piedalīties tādos noteiktas kultūrauga vai sugas

atbalsta pasākumos kā atjaunošana, dzīvotspējas pārbaude

un citos, ko organizē attiecīgā ECPGR darba grupa, un/vai

veicināt šos pasākumus;

v) pēc iespējas ātrāk nodrošināt savu Eiropas paraugu

dublēšanu drošībai vienojoties par nosacījumiem melnās

kastes principu ietvaros attiecīgi cita asociētā dalībnieka gēnu

bankā, iespējams citā valstī un/vai Vispasaules sēklu glabātuvē

Svalbardā (Svalbard Global Seed Vault);

vi) veicināt savu Eiropas paraugu un

saistītās informācijas pieejamību atbilstoši AEGIS

Vispārējiem principiem;

vii) nodrošinot Eiropas paraugiem sabiedriskā domēna

paraugu līmeņa informāciju attiecībā uz pieejamajiem pasu

datiem ar nacionālo inventarizācijas sistēmu un EURISCO,

un pēc minimālajiem standartiem, par kuriem ir vienojušies

ECPGR dokumentācijas un informācijas tīkli; darīt

pieejamus nekonfidenciālus raksturojumus un vērtēšanas datus ar

atbilstošās ECPGR centrālās kultūraugu datubāzes

(ECCDB) vai citu līdzīgu sistēmu starpniecību, kuras

eventuāli var tikt ieviestas šajā nolūkā; un

viii) nodrošināt un/vai pārvaldīt saskaņā ar

AEGIS apstiprinātajiem standartiem tādus ar saglabāšanu

saistītus pakalpojumus, kādus asociētais dalībnieks varētu

piedāvāt.

2. Nacionālais koordinators pieņem institūciju

par AEGIS asociēto dalībnieku un piekrīt strādāt ar

institūciju AEGIS mērķu sasniegšanā un vispārējo principu

īstenošanā.

3. Institūcija var lauzt šo Līgumu, paziņojot par

to rakstiski attiecīgajam nacionālajam koordinatoram 12

mēnešus iepriekš.

4. Ja nacionālais koordinators nav apmierināts ar

to, ka institūcija nav pilnībā izpildījusi šajā Līgumā noteiktās

saistības, tas jebkurā laikā par to var rakstiski

ziņot institūcijai, precizējot jomas, kurās

institūcija nav izpildījusi saistības. Ja

institūcija 12 mēnešu laikā pēc rakstiskā paziņojuma saņemšanas

neizlabo situāciju, nacionālais koordinators drīkst

nekavējoties izbeigt šī Līguma darbību.

5. Šī Līguma darbība beidzas, izstājoties

AEGIS dalībniekam, kura jurisdikcijā institūcija atrodas,

vai beidzoties Saprašanās memoranda darbībai attiecībā uz

AEGIS iestādi.

6. Šis Līgums tiks uzglabāts pie nacionālā

koordinatora. Tā eksemplārs tiks nosūtīts tās organizācijas

izpilddirektoram (ģenerāldirektoram), kura ir atbildīga par

ECPGR sekretariāta pakalpojumu nodrošināšanu. Pašreiz

ECPGR sekretariāta pakalpojumus nodrošina Bioversity International.

Paraksts un datums

(institūcijas pārstāvja vārds, uzvārds un

amats)

Paraksts un datums

(nacionālā koordinatora (valsts) vārds, uzvārds un

amats)

1.papildinājums

AEGIS mērķi

AEGIS mērķi būs šādi:

i) attīstīt efektīvāku PGRFA saglabāšanas un

ilgtspējīgas izmantošanas reģionālo sistēmu, izveidojot

Eiropas kolekciju;

ii) veicināt citus sadarbības pasākumus

racionālas PGRFA saglabāšanas, pārvaldības un ilgtspējīgas

izmantošanas nolūkāun uzņemties tos;

iii) veicināt PGRFA apmaiņu atbilstoši

apmaiņas standarta noteikumiem un nosacījumiem;

iv) veicināt informācijas apmaiņu PGRFA

pušu, citu ieinteresēto subjektu un plašākas saglabāšanas

kopienas starpā; un

v) nodrošināt reģionālās sadarbības mehānismu, lai

īstenotu Eiropas reģiona Līgumu.

2.papildinājums

Eiropas paraugiem piemērojamie vispārējie

principi AEGIS ietvaros

a) Šādi principi tiks piemēroti Eiropas paraugu

pārvaldībai un apmaiņai AEGIS ietvaros;

i) attiecīgā AEGIS individuālajiem dalībniekiem

ir rīcības brīvība ierosināt paraugu iekļaušanu Eiropas paraugu

skaitā;

ii) paraugiem, kas tiek izvirzīti kā Eiropas paraugi, ir

jāatbilst ECPGR Vadības komitejas pieņemtajām vispārējām

atlases prasībām;

iii) kā Eiropas paraugi tiks reģistrēti un saglabāti

tikai tie paraugi, uz kuriem neattiecas nekādas trešās puses

saistības vai ierobežojumi;

iv) Starptautiskā līguma Standarta materiālu

pārsūtīšanas līgums (SMTA) tiks

izmantots 1.pielikumā iekļauto kultūraugu nodošanas

procedūrā;

v) SMTA3

noteikumi un nosacījumi tiks izmantoti to 1.pielikumā neiekļauto

kultūraugu nodošanas procedūrā, kuri ir reģistrēti kā Eiropas

paraugi, kopā ar šādu SMTA

interpretāciju skaidrojošu piezīmi:

"Ja SMTA tiek izmantots pārtikas un

lauksaimniecības augu ģenētisko resursu nodošanai, izņemot tos,

kas ir reģistrēti Līguma 1.pielikumā:

● SMTA dotās atsauces uz "Daudzpusējo

sistēmu" netiek interpretētas kā ierobežojums SMTA

piemērošanai 1.pielikumā iekļautajiem pārtikas un lauksamniecības

kultūraugu ģenētiskajiem resursiem;

● lai gan 1.pielikumā neiekļautais materiāls tiek

izplatīts ar pievienotu SMTA, tas nekļūst par Daudzpusējās

sistēmas sastāvdaļu, bet tomēr tas ir pieejams pēc tādiem pašiem

nosacījumiem;

● jo īpaši SMTA 6.2., 6.5.panta

"b" punkta un 6.10.panta gadījumā, "no

Daudzpusējās sistēmas" nozīmē "atbilstoši šim

Līgumam";

● SMTA 6.11.pantā un 3.pielikumā sniegtā

atsauce uz "Pārtikas un lauksaimniecības augu ģenētiskajiem

resursiem, kuri pieder tam pašam kultūraugam, kas minēts Līguma

1.pielikumā, ar nozīmi "tam pašam kultūraugam piederošie

pārtikas un lauksaimniecības augu ģenētiskie

resursi".

vi) ja Eiropas paraugi tiek pieprasīti citos nolūkos

kā SMTA 6.1. pantā noteiktajos, tad noteikumi un nosacījumi,

ar kuriem tiek nodrošināta pieeja Eiropas paraugiem, katrā

gadījumā tiks saskaņoti atsevišķi starp asociēto dalībnieku un

saņēmēju;

vii) atbilstošā ECPGR darba grupa ierosinās

minimālos saskaņotos standartus attiecībā uz Eiropas

kolekcijas pārvaldību katra kultūrauga genofondam, un

ECPGR Vadības komiteja tos apstiprinās;

viii) AEGIS asociētie dalībnieki veiks

visas atlases darbības atbilstoši apstiprinātajiem

standartiem;

ix) sabiedriskajā domēnā būs pieejama paraugu līmeņa

informācija, kas tiek reģistrēta atbilstoši apstiprinātajiem

standartiem, kā arī nekonfidenciālie raksturojuma un vērtējuma

dati;

x) katram Eiropas paraugam būs identificēts drošības

dublikāts, kas tiks uzglabāts tādos pašos vai labākos

apstākļos kā oriģināls;

xi) katrai struktūrvienībai AEGIS organizācijas

struktūrā ECPGR Vadības komiteja noteiks detalizētu

kompetences jomu.

b) Iepriekš minētie principi tiks pastāvīgi pārskatīti,

un tie var tikt atbilstoši grozīti saskaņā ar Saprašanās

memoranda 11.panta "a" punktā aprakstīto kārtību par

Eiropas Gēnu banku integrētās sistēmas (AEGIS)

izveidošanu.

1 Administratīvais budžets ietvers

koordinācijas un administratīvo pakalpojumu izmaksas ECPGR

sekretariātā.

2 SMTA izmantošana neuzliek nekādas saistības

trešā puses saņēmējam vai Vadošajai iestādei veikt jebkuras

darbības, lai reģistrētu vai pildītu SMTA attiecībā uz

1.pielikumā neiekļauto kultūraugu nodošanu.

3 SMTA izmantošana neuzliek nekādas saistības

trešās puses saņēmējam vai Vadošajai iestādei veikt jebkuras

darbības, lai reģistrētu vai pildītu SMTA attiecībā uz

1.pielikumā neiekļauto kultūraugu nodošanu.

MEMORANDUM OF

UNDERSTANDING

for the establishment of

A EUROPEAN GENEBANK INTEGRATED SYSTEM

(AEGIS)

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS the International Treaty on Plant Genetic

Resources for Food and Agriculture, provides for the conservation

and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and

agriculture and for the establishment of a Multilateral System of

Access and Benefit-sharing that will allow for the continued

exchange of plant genetic resources that are most important to

food security and on which countries are most interdependent, on

standard, globally agreed terms and conditions;

WHEREAS the Governing Body of the International

Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, at

its first session in June 2006, adopted the Standard Material

Transfer Agreement, under which plant genetic resources for food

and agriculture under the Multilateral System established by the

Treaty will be transferred;

WHEREAS plant genetic resources for food and

agriculture in Europe are conserved in some 500 institutions

scattered over more than forty European countries, with a need

for more coordination and sharing of responsibilities and

activities related to conservation, management and

access;

WHEREAS the countries of Europe wish to set up a

European Genebank Integrated System to improve coordination with

respect to the conservation of PGRFA in Europe and tofacilitate

the exchange of such PGRFA and related information among the

countries and genebanks of Europe, without prejudice to the

possible eventual extension of the system to in situ

materials;

Now therefore, the countries

and regional organizations party to this Memorandum of

Understanding hereby agree as follows:

Article 1

Definitions

For the purposes of this Memorandum of Understanding

-

i) "AEGIS" means the European Genebank

Integrated System established under Article 2;

ii) "Annex I crops" means PGRFA listed

in Annex I of the Treaty;

iii) "Approved standards" means minimum

agreed standards adopted by the ECPGR Steering

Committee;

iv) "Black box arrangements"

means

a. that the deposit of the material will not affect any

property or other rights pertaining to the material;

b. that the material deposited will remain in sealed

containers, unless otherwise agreed with the

depositor;

c. that the terms and conditions governing the deposit

of the material will be agreed between the depositor and the

institution in which the materials are to be

deposited;

d. that the institution in which the materials are to be

deposited will take no action to further transfer the material

except back to the original depositor or the depositor's

successor in title, or in accordance with the depositor's

instructions.

v) "Central Crop Database" means the

ECPGR Central Crop Database (ECCDB) or such other system as may

eventually be developed for this purpose;

vi) "Crop Conservation Work Plans"

means the work plans prepared by the ECPGR Crop Working Groups

for each crop under Article 5d) and approved by the ECPGR

Steering Committee under Article 5b);

vii) "ECPGR" means the European

Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources;

viii) "European Accessions" means

accessions registered as European Accessions in accordance with

Article 6(a)(ii) and (iii), which will be collectively known as

"the European Collection", to be organized where

feasible on a crop genepool specific basis;

ix) "Non-Annex I crops" means PGRFA

other than PGRFA listed in Annex I of the Treaty;

x) "National Coordinator" means an

ECPGR National Coordinator whose mandate has been extended under

Article 6(a)(i) to act also as National Coordinator for AEGIS at

the national level;

xi) "PGRFA" means plant genetic

resources for food and agriculture;

xii) "SMTA" means the Standard Material

Transfer Agreement adopted by the Governing Body of the Treaty at

its First Session in June 2006;

xiii) "The Parties" means the countries

and regional organizations that have signed this Memorandum of

Understanding;

xiv) "Treaty" means the International

Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which

entered into force on 29 June 2004;

xv) "Institutions" includes public

sector, civil society and private sector genebanks, and other

institutions holding PGRFA collections or providing conservation

related services.

Article 2

Establishment of AEGIS

a) The Parties hereby establish the European

Genebank Integrated System.

b) The membership of AEGIS will consist of

eligible countries and regional organizations in the European

Region that have signed this Memorandum of

Understanding.

c) AEGIS will cover both Annex I and non-Annex I

crops that are free from any third party obligations or

restrictions, provided that this will not limit the discretion of

anyindividual Member of AEGIS with respect to the accessions or

class of accessions it deems appropriate to propose for

registration as European Accessions.

Article 3

Countries and regional organizations eligible for membership in

AEGIS

a) The countries and regional organizations listed below

are eligible for membership in AEGIS:

Albania; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium;

Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech

Republic; Denmark; Estonia; European Community; Finland; France;

Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Israel;

Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia FYR; Malta;

Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal;

Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain;

Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; United Kingdom; Ukraine, provided

that

i) they are Members of ECPGR; and

ii) they are Parties to the Treaty or are

otherwise willing to make plant genetic resources for food and

agriculture under their jurisdiction available under the

conditions of the Treaty.

b) The Members of AEGIS may by consensus add

other countries and regional organizations to the list of

countries and regional organizations eligible for membership in

AEGIS.

c) For the purposes of this Memorandum of Understanding,

a country may be represented by its Government or by a person or

public entity that has been appointed by its Government, and a

regional organization by a Representative appointed on its

behalf.

Article 4

Objectives of AEGIS

The objectives of AEGIS will be the

following:

i) To develop a more efficient regional system of

conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA through the setting

up of a European Collection;

ii) To promote and undertake other collaborative

action for the rational conservation, management and

sustainable use of PGRFA;

iii) To facilitate the exchange of PGRFA in

accordance with standard terms and conditions of

exchange;

iv) To promote the exchange of information regarding

PGRFA among the Parties, other stakeholders and the broader

conservation community; and

v) To provide a mechanism for regional

cooperation in the implementation of the Treaty in the

European region.

Article 5

Relationship of AEGIS with ECPGR

a) AEGIS will operate within the framework of

ECPGR.

b) The ECPGR Steering Committee will have

overall responsibility and oversight over the operation of

AEGIS, will approve the administrative budget1 of

AEGIS, and will use its best efforts to promote the mobilization

of the funds required. In particular, without prejudice to the

generality of the foregoing, the Steering Committee will

-

i) promote the establishment of the European

Collection;

ii) adopt general requirements for the selection

of accessions to be proposed for registration as European

Accessions;

iii) approve the contents of the Crop Conservation

Work Plans, and oversee their implementation;

iv) adopt minimum agreed standards for the

management of the European Collection on a crop genepool specific

basis.

c) The ECPGR Secretariat will -

i) support the ECPGR Steering Committee in the

activities outlined under Article 5(b);

ii) provide coordination and secretariat support

for AEGIS activities;

d) The ECPGR Crop Working Groups will provide

technical support for the implementation of AEGIS,

including -

i) adopting crop-specific criteria that are

consistent with the general requirements adopted by the ECPGR

Steering Committee for the selection of accessions to be proposed

for registration as European Accessions;

ii) helping to identify and making

recommendations to the participating countries regarding the

accessions proposed for registration as European

Accessions;

iii) preparing and coordinating the implementation of

Crop Conservation Work Plans;

iv) proposing minimum agreed standards for the

management of the European Collection on a crop genepool specific

basis for adoption by the ECPGR Steering Committee.

e) The ECPGR Documentation and Information

Network will provide the information infrastructure,

including -

i) recording registered European Accessions, and

providing reporting services through the National Inventory

System and the European Plant Genetic Resources Search Catalogue

(EURISCO); and

ii) crop-specific information tools for

characterization and evaluation data.

f) The National Coordinators of ECPGR will act as

coordinators for AEGIS at the national level, subject to the

extension of their mandates in accordance with Article

6(a)(i).

Article 6

Responsibilities of Members of AEGIS

a) Each Member country participating in AEGIS will be

responsible for -

i) extending the mandate of the ECPGR National

Coordinator to act also as National Coordinator for AEGIS at

the national level, and providing appropriate support;

ii) in consultation with the Associate Members concerned

within its jurisdiction, proposing to the ECPGR Crop

Working Groups lists of such accessions for registration as

European Accessions as it may deem appropriate in accordance

with the general selection requirements adopted by the ECPGR and

the General Principles applicable to European Accessions under

AEGIS set out in Article 8, and taking into account any

crop-specific selection criteria adopted by the ECPGR Crop

Working Groups;

iii) after considering the recommendations by the ECPGR

Crop Working Groups, registering accessions as European

Accessions, notifying such European Accessions to the

European Plant Genetic Resources Search Catalogue (EURISCO),

through the National Inventory System, and, in the event

that the AEGIS Member concerned withdraws from this

Memorandum of Understanding, notifying to EURISCO before the

effective date of the withdrawal that the registration of

accessions within its jurisdiction as European Accessions will

terminate on the effective date of withdrawal;

iv) keeping under review the list of registered

European Accessions for which it is responsible in light of

the need to maintain a rational system of ex situ

conservation. Where an AEGIS Member wishes to withdraw an

accession from the list of European Accessions, the AEGIS

Member will give at least twelve months notice to the ECPGR Crop

Working Group concerned of such withdrawal, and will inform

EURISCO accordingly when the withdrawal is effective.

b) The regional organizations participating in

AEGIS will be responsible for providing appropriate

support.

Article 7

Responsibilities of National Coordinators with respect to

AEGIS

The National Coordinator will be responsible

within the member country concerned for -

i) serving as the focal point for interactions

with the ECPGR Crop Working Groups and for the implementation of

the Crop Conservation Work Plans within his/her country with the

participating institution(s);

ii) identifying and accepting appropriate eligible

institutions as Associate Members of AEGIS in accordance with

the procedures described Article 9, and promoting and

coordinating appropriate support for such Associate

Members;

iii) promoting and coordinating with the Associate

Members concerned within its jurisdictio the designation of

European Accessions and the development and management of

the European Collection;

iv) in case of the withdrawal of an Associate

Member within its jurisdiction or the termination of its

Associate Membership Agreement, informing the ECPGR Secretariat

of the withdrawal or termination with, where feasible, twelve

months notice before the effective date of withdrawal or

termination, in order to allow for an appropriate adjustment of

the Crop Conservation Work Plans.

Article 8

General Principles applicable to European Accessions under

AEGIS

a) The following principles will be applicable to

the management and exchange of European Accessions under

AEGIS:

i) The discretion to propose accessions as

European Accessions lies with the individual Members of AEGIS

concerned;

ii) Accessions proposed as European Accessions must meet

the general selection requirements adopted by the ECPGR

Steering Committee;

iii) Only accessions that are free from any third

party obligations or restrictions will be registered and

conserved as European Accessions;

iv) The Standard Material Transfer Agreement

(SMTA) of the International Treaty will be used for

the transfer of Annex I crops;

v) The terms and conditions of the

SMTA2 will be used for the transfer of

Non-Annex I crops that have been registered as European

Accessions, with an explanatory note reflecting the following

interpretation of the SMTA:

"In the event that the SMTA is used for the

transfer of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

other than those listed in Annex 1 of the Treaty:

● The references in the SMTA to the

"Multilateral System" shall not be interpreted as

limiting the application of the SMTA to Annex 1 Plant Genetic

Resources for Food and Agriculture;

● While Non-Annex 1 material distributed with the

enclosed SMTA does not become part of the Multilateral System, it

will however be available under the same conditions;

● In particular in the case of Article 6.2,

Article 6.5(b) and Article 6.10 of the SMTA "from the

Multilateral System" shall be taken to mean "under this

Agreement";

● The reference in Article 6.11 and Annex 3 of the

SMTA to "Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

belonging to the same crop, as set out in Annex 1 to the

Treaty" shall be taken to mean "Plant Genetic Resources

for Food and Agriculture belonging to the same

crop"."

vi) In the event that European Accessions are accessed

for purposes other than those provided for in Article 6.1 of

the SMTA, the terms and conditions under which the European

Accessions are made available will be agreed on a case by case

basis between the Associate Member and the Recipient;

vii) Minimum agreed standards regarding

management of the European Collection will be proposed for

each crop genepool by the respective ECPGR Crop Working Group and

adopted by the ECPGR Steering Committee;

viii) Associate Members of AEGIS will perform all

selected activities according to the approved

standards;

ix) Public domain accession-level information

recorded in accordance with approved standards, as well as

non-confidential characterization and evaluation data will be

made available;

x) Each European Accession will have an identified

safety-duplicate stored under the same or better conditions

than the original;

xi) For each of the bodies within the organizational

framework of AEGIS, detailed terms of reference will be

established by the ECPGR Steering Committee.

b) The above Principles will be kept under review

and may be amended as appropriate, in accordance with the

procedure described in Article 11 (a).

Article 9

Associate Membership of AEGIS

a) The Parties will encourage appropriate

eligible public, private and civil society institutions to become

Associate Members of AEGIS, in accordance with their

national policy and legal frameworks.

b) Institutions located in a Member country of

AEGIS will be eligible for associate membership in

AEGIS.

c) An eligible institution will become an

Associate Member of AEGIS once it has been accepted as an

Associate Member by the respective National Coordinator and has

signed an AEGIS - Associate Membership Agreement with the

National Coordinator in the form set out in the Annex to this

Memorandum of Understanding. The signed AEGIS - Associate

Membership Agreement will be deposited with the National

Coordinator and a copy will be sent to the Executive Head

(Director General) of the Organization responsible for providing

the Secretariat services to the ECPGR.

d) The responsibilities of Associate Members of

AEGIS will be the following:

i) Identifying, in consultation with the AEGIS

Member concerned through the National ECPGR Coordinator, from

among the accessions they hold, those accessions that are free

from any third party obligations or restrictions and meet the

general selection requirements adopted by the ECPGR Steering

Committee, to be proposed for registration as European

Accessions;

ii) managing the European Accessions in their

institutions in accordance with the Objectives and General

Principles of AEGIS;

iii) ensuring the long-term conservation and/or

maintenance of their European Accessions according to

approved standards;

iv) participating in and/or facilitating supporting

activities such as regeneration, viability testing and others

organized by the respective ECPGR Crop Working Group for the

crop/species in question;

v) ensuring as soon as possible safety-duplication of

their European Accessions in agreed conditions, under

black-box arrangements as appropriate, at another Associate

Member genebank, possibly in a different country, and/or at the

Svalbard Global Seed Vault;

vi) facilitating access to and availability of their

European Accessions and related information in accordance

with the General Principles applicable to European Accessions

under AEGIS;

vii) for European Accessions, making available public

domain accession-level information regarding available

passport data through the National Inventory System and EURISCO,

following the minimum standards agreed by the ECPGR Documentation

and Information Network; making available nonconfidential

characterization and evaluation data through the relevant ECPGR

Central Crop Database (ECCDB) or such other system as may

eventually be developed for this purpose; and

viii) providing and/or managing, in accordance

with AEGIS approved standards, such conservation related

services as the Associate Member may offer.

Article 10

Entry into force of this Memorandum of Understanding

This Memorandum of Understanding will enter into force

on its signature by 10 countries eligible for membership

in AEGIS, and will remain in force until terminated in accordance

with Article 11.

Article 11

Amendment, Withdrawal from and Termination of this Memorandum of

Understanding

a) This Memorandum of Understanding may be

amended by consensus of the Parties.

b) Any Party may withdraw from this Memorandum of

Understanding on twelve months written notice to the Depositary.

In the event that a Party withdraws from this Memorandum of

Understanding, all AEGIS Associate Membership Agreements in

respect of Institutions within its jurisdiction will terminate as

of the effective date of that withdrawal.

c) This Memorandum of Understanding will

terminate if the number of Parties falls below the minimum

number required for its entry into force, or if the ECPGR ceases

to exist.

Article 12

Depositary of this Memorandum of Understanding

a) The original of this Memorandum of Understanding and

any amendments thereto and Declarations made hereunder will be

deposited with the Executive Head (Director

General) of the Organization responsible for providing the

Secretariat services to the ECPGR. At the present time, the ECPGR

Secretariat services are provided by Bioversity

International.

b) Countries and regional organizations eligible for

membership in AEGIS may become members of AEGIS by signing the

original copy of this Memorandum of Understanding held by the

Executive Head (Director General) of the Organization responsible

for providing the Secretariat services to the ECPGR, or by

signing a copy of this Memorandum of Understanding authenticated

by the Executive Head (Director General) of the Organization

responsible for providing the Secretariat services to the ECPGR

as being a true copy.

Signatures and Date

(Name and Position of Country Representative

(country) or Representative (Regional

Organization))

ANNEX

AEGIS - Associate Membership

Agreement

This Agreement is between (Name of institution),

being an eligible institution within the meaning of Article 9 of

the Memorandum of Understanding for the Establishment of the

European Genebank Integrated System (AEGIS) (the

Institution) and the [AEGIS] ECPGR National Coordinator (Name

and Institution of Coordinator) for the country (Name of Country)

in which the Institution is located (the National

Coordinator).

1. The Institution hereby -

a. agrees to become an Associate Member of

AEGIS;

b. accepts the responsibilities of an Associate

Member of AEGIS as set out below:

i) Identifying, in consultation with the AEGIS

Member concerned through the National ECPGR Coordinator,

from among the accessions they hold, those accessions that are

free from any third party obligations or restrictions and meet

the general selection requirements adopted by the ECPGR Steering

Committee, to be proposed for registration as European

Accessions;

ii) managing the European Accessions in their

institutions in accordance with the Objectives of AEGIS and the

General Principles applicable to European Accessions under AEGIS,

as set out in the Appendices to this Agreement, as those

Objectives and General Principles may be amended from time to

time;

iii) ensuring the long-term conservation and/or

maintenance of their European Accessions according to

approved standards;

iv) participating in and/or facilitating supporting

activities such as regeneration, viability testing and others

organized by the respective ECPGR Crop Working Group for the

crop/species in question;

v) ensuring as soon as possible safety-duplication of

their European Accessions in agreed conditions, under

black-box arrangements as appropriate, at another Associate

Member genebank, possibly in a different country, and/or at the

Svalbard Global Seed Vault;

vi) facilitating access to and availability of their

European Accessions and related information in accordance

with the General Principles of AEGIS;

vii) for European Accessions, making available public

domain accession-level information regarding available

passport data through the National Inventory System and EURISCO,

following the minimum standards agreed by the ECPGR Documentation

and Information Network; making available nonconfidential

characterization and evaluation data through the relevant ECPGR

Central Crop Database (ECCDB) or such other system as may

eventually be developed for this purpose; and

viii) providing and/or managing, in accordance

with AEGIS approved standards, such conservation related

services as the Associate Member may offer.

2. The National Coordinator accepts the

Institution as an Associate Member of AEGIS and agrees to

work with the Institution in the implementation of the Objectives

and General Principles of AEGIS.

3. The Institution may withdraw from this

Agreement on twelve months written notice to the National

Coordinator concerned.

4. In the event that the National Coordinator is

not satisfied that the Institution has complied fully with its

obligations under this Agreement, the National Coordinator

may at any time give written notice to the

Institution specifying the areas in which compliance by

the Institution has been deficient. If the

Institution fails to remedy the situation within a period

of twelve months following receipt of such written notice, the

National Coordinator may terminate this Agreement

forthwith.

5. This agreement will terminate on the

withdrawal of the AEGIS Member in whose the jurisdiction the

Institution is located or on the termination of the Memorandum of

Understanding for the Establishment of AEGIS.

6. This Agreement will be deposited with

the National Coordinator. A copy will be sent to the

Executive Head (Director General) of the Organization responsible

for providing the Secretariat services to the ECPGR. At the

present time, the ECPGR Secretariat services are provided by

Bioversity International.

Signature and Date

(Name and Position of Representative of the

Institution)

Signature and Date

(Name and Position of Representative of National

Coordinator (country))

APPENDIX 1

Objectives of AEGIS

The objectivesof AEGIS will be the following:

i) To develop a more efficient regional system of

conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA through the setting up

of a European Collection;

ii) To promote and undertake other collaborative

action for the rational conservation, management and

sustainable use of PGRFA;

iii) To facilitate the exchange of PGRFA in

accordance with standard terms and conditions of

exchange;

iv) To promote the exchange of information regarding

PGRFA among the Parties, other stakeholders and the broader

conservation community; and

v) To provide a mechanism for regional cooperation in

the implementation of the Treaty in the European

region.

APPENDIX 2

General Principles applicable to European

Accessions under AEGIS

a) The following principles will be applicable to

the management and exchange of European Accessions under

AEGIS:

i) The discretion to propose accessions as European

Accessions lies with the individual Members of AEGIS

concerned;

ii) Accessions proposed as European Accessions must meet

the general selection requirements adopted by the ECPGR Steering

Committee;

iii) Only accessions that are free from any third

party obligations or restrictions will be registered and

conserved as European Accessions;

iv) The Standard Material Transfer Agreement

(SMTA) of the International Treaty will be used for

the transfer of Annex I crops;

v) The terms and conditions of the

SMTA3 will be used for the transfer of

Non-Annex I crops that have been registered as European

Accessions, with an explanatory note reflecting the following

interpretation of the SMTA:

"In the event that the SMTA is used for the

transfer of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

other than those listed in Annex 1 of the Treaty:

● The references in the SMTA to the

"Multilateral System" shall not be interpreted as

limiting the application of the SMTA to Annex 1 Plant Genetic

Resources for Food and Agriculture;

● While Non-Annex 1 material distributed with the

enclosed SMTA does not become part of the Multilateral System, it

will however be available under the same conditions;

● In particular in the case of Article 6.2,

Article 6.5(b) and Article 6.10 of the SMTA "from the

Multilateral System" shall be taken to mean "under this

Agreement";

● The reference in Article 6.11 and Annex 3 of the

SMTA to "Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

belonging to the same crop, as set out in Annex 1 to the

Treaty" shall be taken to mean "Plant Genetic Resources

for Food and Agriculture belonging to the same

crop"."

vi) In the event that European Accessions are accessed

for purposes other than those provided for in Article 6.1 of

the SMTA, the terms and conditions under which the European

Accessions are made available will be agreed on a case by case

basis between the Associate Member and the Recipient;

vii) Minimum agreed standards regarding

management of the European Collection will be proposed for

each crop genepool by the respective ECPGR Crop Working Group and

adopted by the ECPGR Steering Committee;

viii) Associate Members of AEGIS will perform all

selected activities according to the approved

standards;

ix) Public domain accession-level information

recorded in accordance with approved standards, as well as

non-confidential characterization and evaluation data will be

made available;

x) Each European Accession will have an identified

safety-duplicate stored under the same or better conditions

than the original;

xi) For each of the bodies within the organizational

framework of AEGIS, detailed terms of reference will be

established by the ECPGR Steering Committee.

b) The above Principles will be kept under review

and may be amended as appropriate, in accordance with the

procedure described in Article 11 a) of the MMemorandum of

Understanding for the Establishment of a European Genebank

Integrated System (AEGIS).

1 The administrative budget will include

costs of coordination and administrative services at the ECPGR

Secretariat.

2 The use of the SMTA does not place any

obligation on the Third Party Beneficiary or on the Governing

Body to take any action to record or enforce the SMTA in respect

of transfers of non-Annex I crops.

3 The use of the SMTA does not place any

obligation on the Third Party Beneficiary or on the Governing

Body to take any action to record or enforce the SMTA in respect

of transfers of non-Annex I crops.