Dear Members of the Zoological Society of Japan

We are writing to inform you that we have received a direct mail distribution request from the ABS Support Office at the National Institute of Genetics.
Zoological Society of Japan Secretariat

From here
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Everyone

We are pleased to invite you to the 4th Asian ABS Academic Forum and Symposium "AAAF 2026 Tokyo" from the ABS Support Office at the National Institute of Genetics (Head: Mutsuaki Suzuki) (https://idenshigen.jp/).

This second time the event is held in Japan, officials from government permit-issuing authorities from eight Asian countries are scheduled to visit, making this a valuable opportunity to interact directly with ABS National Focal Points (NFPs). We warmly invite you to participate.

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The 4th Asian ABS Academic Forum and Symposium "AAAF 2026 Tokyo"

Since Japan ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol, it has become widely known that ABS procedures are required for exchanging research samples internationally. However, ABS compliance varies by country, and practitioners often face confusion during the procedures, such as having difficulty connecting with dedicated contact points.
To address these challenges, the 4th AAAF Symposium will invite representatives from government National Focal Points (NFPs) and permit-issuing agencies from eight Asian countries (scheduled), including Malaysia, Mongolia, and Laos—who will be speaking in Japan for the first time—to share the latest updates on ABS and discuss various ABS challenges from an academic perspective.
In addition to the lectures, there will also be "Meet the speakers" sessions where you can ask questions and consult directly with representatives from each country about individual cases. Please take advantage of this opportunity.

The 4th symposium of Asia ABS Academic Forum “AAAF 2026 Tokyo” will be held on July 23 in Tokyo, hosted by the ABS Support Office, National Institute of Genetics, Japan (NIG). This event will bring together a diverse group of professionals, researchers, and administrators in academia and government from Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, South Korea, and Vietnam (tentative). Organized by Asia ABS Academic Forum (AAAF), the symposium will explore emerging trends in the ABS community, provide a platform for professional discussion and networking, and address the challenges of responding to technological advancements and evolving societal expectations.

■Date and Time: Thursday, July 23, 2026, 13:00 - 18:00 (tentative)
■ Venue: Osaki Bright Core Hall (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo)
■Details and registration: https://idenshigen.jp/2026/04/28/20260723/

[Speaker]
Thailand: Speakers being finalized
Biodiversity-Based Economy Development Office (BEDO) or Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP)

Indonesia
Dr. Atit Kanti, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)

Malaysia
Dr. Khairul Naim bin Adham, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES)

Laos
Ms. Somephavanh Radavanh, Science Department, Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES)

Bhutan
Mrs. Chogyal Tshering Dolkar, National Biodiversity Centre (NBC / MoAL), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock

Cambodia
Dr. Yourk Sothearith, Ministry of Environment (MoE), Department of Biodiversity

Mongolia
Ms. Purevjav Sainbileg, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC)

South Korea
Dr. Seon Lee, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB)

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