US embassy cable - 05VIENNA171

UNCLAS VIENNA 000171 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR OES/ETC/AVILLEGAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, EAID, SENV, TBIO, AU 
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: ACCESS TO GENETIC RESOURCES AND BENEFIT 
SHARING 
 
REF: 04 STATE 269625 
 
1.  In researching reftel questions, post obtained 
information from publicly available sources, as well as from 
GoA officials in the Ministry for Agriculture, Environment, 
Forestry, and Water Management (MoA) and in the Austrian 
Patent Office. 
 
2.  There are no access restrictions for natural resources 
in Austria.  Researchers must obtain permits when they 
intend to work in national parks or on private property, but 
not for work in publicly accessible areas.  Researchers need 
to follow the Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species (CITES) guidelines if they intend to 
carry out research on endangered species.  State officials 
issue permits according to their respective hunting and 
natural protection laws. 
 
3.  Foreign researchers are subject to Austrian visa 
regulations.  The Ministry of Interior issues visas for 
foreign researchers.  The researchers must register with an 
officially recognized Austrian university or research 
center.  Another possibility is to request a "temporary 
duty" visa, as an employee of a foreign company. 
 
4.  There is no requirement for a permit to export or import 
non-CITES biological specimens. However, there are phyto- 
and zoo-sanitary regulations on imports of specimen used for 
agricultural purposes. 
 
5.  Austria has no laws or regulations for negotiating 
mutually agreed terms (MATs) for access to and use of 
genetic resources.  There are also no regulations pertaining 
to prior informed consent (PIC) issues.  According to GoA 
interlocutors and public documents, Austria does not have a 
policy in these fields. 
 
6.  There is no website that provides general information to 
foreign researchers seeking to obtain permits.  Prospective 
researchers should contact Andrea Nouak in the MoA regarding 
permit questions.  Her phone number is (43)-51522-1616; e- 
mail is andrea.nouak@lebensministerium.at. 
 
BROWN