The organisations behind No Patents On Seeds are especially concerned about increasing number of patents on plants, seeds and farm animals and their impact on farmers, breeders, innovation and biodiversity. These patents create new dependencies for farmers, breeders, food producers and consumers. These patents have to be regarded as misappropriation of basic resources in farm and food production and as general abuse of patent law. We call for an urgent re-think of European patent law in biotechnology and plant breeding and to support clear regulations that exclude from patentability processes for breeding, genetic material, plants and animals and food derived thereof.
Munich, 9.5.2013
The European Patent Office (EPO) has done it again. Yesterday they granted a patent on pepper plants, such as chili, derived from conventional breeding (EP2140023). The patent covers the plants, fruits and seeds and even claims the growing and harvesting of the plants as an invention. The patent was granted despite the fact that the European Parliament and the German Parliament have asked the EPO to stop these patents, and over 2 million people have signed an online petition against patents on conventionally-bred seeds.
Munich, 13.3. 2013
The European Patent Office (EPO) has restarted to rush for patents on plants derived from conventional breeding, although a precedent case is pending in front the Enlarged Board of Appeal concerning a patent on tomatoes (G2/12). This new development is evident from a report of the coalition of No Patents on Seeds that is published today.
30.11.2012 Munich.
Over 30 organisations from the agricultural, environmental, religious and developmental policy sectors demonstrated today in Munich against patents on life and genetic engineering in agriculture. The demonstration was held because the the deadline issued by the European Patent Office (EPO) ends today for the public to submit questions on the patenting of plants and animals from conventional breeding.
