[Info en castellano abajo]
Protect agrobiodiversity against patents on conventionally-bred seeds!
The independence of traditional breeders in Europe must be maintained. They must not have their access to biological diversity controlled, hindered or blocked by patents, particularly in the face of climate change and extinction of species. Patents on processes based on crossing, selection, the use of natural genetic variations or random mutagenesis must be prohibited. Extending claims included in patents on genetic engineering to conventionally-bred plants and animals, plant varieties or animal breeds must also be prohibited.
Write an mail to the EU commission now and ask them to take action!
CONTACT DETAILS:
Thierry Breton
EU commissioner for Internal Market
Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW)
cab-breton-contact@ec.europa.eu
EMAIL TEMPLATE:
Protect agrobiodiversity against patents on conventionally-bred seeds!
Patents on plant and animal varieties and conventional breeding methods are prohibited in Europe. Patents can only be granted if a trait is directly inserted into the genome via genetic engineering.
However, industry wants patents to be granted on plants and animals, even if they are not obtained from genetic engineering. They also want patents to be granted on plants inheriting random genetic changes (mutations). Conventional breeding will be affected by these patents.
I appeal to the EU to stop these developments. The entire spectrum of biological diversity must continue to be available for future conventional breeding. As long as patents on plants and animals are not completely banned, patents must be strictly limited to genetic engineering methods.
Ensure that European patent laws are correctly interpreted! Make it clear: patents on plants and animals are not permitted if they are obtained from crossing, selection, random mutagenesis or spontaneous genetic changes which occur naturally.
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