Global Significance
The WFCC is the main international body that coordinates the activities of culture collections around the world. Their activities include lobbying for support for collections, preventing the loss of collections, promoting the use of collections, and coordinating international regulations relating to the shipping and use of biological materials.
The WFCC is a Multidisciplinary Commission of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) and a Federation within the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS).
In 1977 the WIPO established the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure. The WFCC coordinates the International Congress of Culture Collections. The most recent meeting was the 11th and it was held in Goslar Germany in October, 2007. It was hosted by the DSMZ. The WFCC communicates via a regular newsletter.
The WFCC works with the OECD to promote Best Practice Guidelines for Biological Resource Centers.
Culture collections are important in the preservation of biodiversity. In 2010 the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya adopted a protocol on access and benefit sharing of genetic resources.
Read more about this topic: World Federation For Culture Collections
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