Stop «Baysanto» from monopolising seeds!

We, the signatory organisations, are calling upon European politicians and governments to stop the European Patent Office from promoting the sell-out of resources needed for our daily food, and effectively limit the monopolisation of seeds needed for conventional breeding and food production. Even though European patent law prohibits patents on plant varieties and «essentially biological» methods for breeding, the EPO continues to grant patents on plants, seeds and breeding material used for and derived from conventional breeding. Further, patents granted on genetically engineered plants are not restricted to a specific process, but cover all plants with the characteristics as described in the patent.

Despite the fact that in 2017 the EPO Administrative Council adopted new rules for the interpretation of European patent law, the underlying problem has not been resolved. These new rules only apply to a limited number of patents; they will not prevent the EPO from granting further patents on conventional breeding in future. Therefore, we are demanding further effective changes in European patent law. Most importantly, no more plants and animals should be patented as «products». Living beings are not an invention of industry. Three crucial areas need changing to make current prohibitions of patents on plant and animal varieties and «essentially biological» methods for breeding effective:

Definition of «essentially biological processes»

It has to be clarified that the term «essentially biological processes» covers all conventional breeding processes, including random mutagenesis, as well as all individual steps in the process, such as selection and / or propagation.

Definition of «products» used or derived from breeding

It has to be clarified that all «products» used in or emanating from «essentially biological processes» are captured by the exclusion from patentability, including all plant/animal parts, cells and genetic information.

Limiting the scope of protection

In the context of plant and animal breeding, the EPO must not grant «absolute product protection» which enables a patent on a plant or animal derived from a technical process to be extended to all conventionally bred plants with the same traits.