Dear friends, dear Sir or Madam,
The European Patent Office in December 2010 published its decision on the patentability of processes for the conventional breeding of plants and animals -these processes are regarded as being not patentable. This is an important success for all those which have been active opposing patents on plants and animals in the last few years.
But it is nevertheless likely that patents on plants and animals may still be granted in Europe. As recent research shows, patents on the products derived from conventional breeding of plants and animals, as well as on material used for breeding (such as seed or semen) or food stuff (such as vegetable or oil from sunflowers or milk from cows) will still be patented.
Furthermore, the prohibition on patents on plants and animal varieties (Art. 53 b of the European Patent Convention) can still easily be circumvented.
Legal clarification through a change in European patent laws is urgently needed. To finally get a prohibition on patents on plants and animals, we are now starting an initiative with an open letter to members of the European Parliament and the European Commission. Please support us with your signature!
You can find the letter ready for individuals and organisations to sign online.
You also can download the letter from here .
You can find our recent report and our media release about European patents as applied and granted in 2010.
Please also have a closer look to our newly relaunched website – if you are looking for particular information on our previous page please use this link.
Thank you very much for your interest and your support!
Christoph Then, for the team coordinating No Patents On Seeds!
