New Delhi | February 5, 2026
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), has launched a digital portal to electronically issue Certificates of Origin aimed at promoting the cultivation of medicinal plants across India.
The portal enables stakeholders seeking exemption related to Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) for cultivated medicinal plants to apply and receive Certificates of Origin online. The complete application and certification process is now available through a fully digital system, and certificates can be downloaded from https://absefiling.nbaindia.in/.
The initiative follows the implementation of the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on July 25, 2023, and the Rajya Sabha on August 1, 2023. Subsequently, the Ministry notified updated Biological Diversity Rules in 2024 and 2025 to operationalise provisions of the amended Act.
The revised rules mandate issuance of electronic Certificates of Origin through a designated digital platform to facilitate medicinal plant cultivation and streamline procedural requirements for stakeholders, including the AYUSH sector, seed industry, and research institutions.
The government said the move will improve transparency, simplify compliance, and support expansion of medicinal plant cultivation while ensuring effective implementation of biodiversity regulations.
