The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), has developed and operationalized a new digital portal. This system is designed to facilitate the electronic issuance of Certificates of Origin for stakeholders seeking Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) exemptions specifically for cultivated medicinal plants.
- Single-Window System: The portal serves as an end-to-end online platform for processing applications and issuing certificates.
- Efficiency: It streamlines procedural requirements, reducing administrative delays for farmers and industries.
- Access: The platform can be accessed at [https://absefiling.nbaindia.in/](https://absefiling.nbaindia.in/).
This initiative operationalizes the provisions of the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023. Following the passage of the Bill by Parliament in 2023, the MoEFCC notified the Biological Diversity Rules in 2024 and 2025 to streamline the regulatory framework for various industries.
The digital generation of these certificates is expected to significantly benefit several groups by distinguishing cultivated resources from wild ones:
- AYUSH Sector: Producers of traditional medicines (Ayurveda, Unani, etc.).
- Seed Sector: Companies involved in the trade and research of plant varieties.
- Research Institutions: Organizations conducting academic and commercial biological research.
Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (PIB) Date: 05 Feb 2026
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