Source: PIB
Why in News?
On 5 February 2026, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) launched a digital portal for the electronic issuance of Certificates of Origin (CoO) for cultivated medicinal plants, to support Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) exemption applications.
Key Features of the Digital CoO Portal
- Purpose:
- Issuance of Certificates of Origin (CoO) for cultivated medicinal plants
- Facilitation of ABS exemption claims
- System Design:
- Single-window, end-to-end online platform
- Covers:
- Application submission
- Processing
- Approval and issuance of CoO
- Automation:
- Auto-generation of Form-12 for eligible stakeholders
About Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)
- ABS ensures:
- Fair and equitable sharing of benefits
- Arising from the use of biological resources
- Exemptions:
- Available for cultivated medicinal plants
- Subject to certification through CoO
About National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
- Established: 2003
- Under: Biological Diversity Act, 2002
- Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Structure includes:
- National Biodiversity Authority
- Secretariat
- State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs)
- Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs)
- Expert Committees
