The draft on ASEAN Framework Agreement on Access to Biological and Genetic Resources was developed during the Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity (AWGNCB) Members and Technical Experts in the Philippines in 1998. The said framework agreement was then circulated to public and private organizations, institutions and groups within and outside ASEAN. In July 1999, the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment met in Bangkok and approved the conduct of the 2nd Meeting of the AWGNCB Technical Experts to review the comments made by the stakeholders. Thus, an initial coordination and extension of assistance in the reformulation of Access Protocol on Genetic and Biological Resources had taken place during the 2nd Meeting of the AWGNCB Technical Experts on ASEAN Framework on Access to Biological and Genetic Resources. The said workshop was organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines, through its Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation and Southeast Asia Regional Institute for Community Education (SEARICE), an ASEAN accredited NGO.

The Workshop aimed to: Review the comments made by public and private organization, institutions and groups on the draft text of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Access to Biological and Genetic Resources and identify key issues and concerns raised by these comments; Incorporate, whenever feasible and appropriate, these issues and concerns in the refinement and improvement of the text of the ASEAN Framework Agreement as well as other elements of the ASEAN policy framework on access to biological and genetic resources; and Identify subsequent activities within the ASEAN that will lead to the adoption and implementation of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Access to Genetic Resources as well as the new policy framework on access to genetic resources in the region.

Designated technical experts and members of AWGNCB Selected group of civil society organizations coming from key ASEAN member countries, currently working on access issues led by the SEARICE ARCBC EU Co-Director and Staff

Revised provisions of the Draft Framework Agreement that will serve as a basic document for succeeding AWGNCB, ASOEN and AMME discussions on the matter for their consideration.

Presently, the framework agreement is once again being circulated to all concerned agencies and organizations for further comments.