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Post by PatrickW on Apr 23, 2011 3:49:27 GMT -5
Changes are planned to the EU seed law, and there's now a period of public consultation. If any of you have any ideas or thoughts about it, I hope you'll let me know. Also I hope some of you will submit a response, even if you don't live in Europe. Something like this affects us all... www.patnsteph.net/weblog/2011/04/new-eu-seed-law/ |
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bertiefox
gardener
There's always tomorrow!
Posts: 236
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Post by bertiefox on Apr 23, 2011 7:06:20 GMT -5
I don't know what they have in mind, but it's probably time we all lobbied our Euro MPs, some of whom are very helpful on this issue, such as Graham Watson MEP.
The last thing we need are any further restrictions on seed varieties and our ability to exchange or sell seed for heritage varieties. Wasn't it Association Kokopelli in France which got really heavily fined just for selling old varieties of seeds to hobby gardeners?
As for GM seeds, what this means is that it will remove our right to eat foods uncontaminated by GM products, as the distance between GM crops and others, not to mention individual smallholders, will be completely insufficient to prevent cross pollination.
As a beekeeper I am very concerned about the impacts of untested GM pollens on my bees and I don't even want to eat honey made from flowers on GM crops.
Ultimately this is all about protecting the rights of the majority against the rights of a few agribusinesses to use whatever technology they think will boost their profits. The rights of the many should outweigh the rights of the few.
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Post by PatrickW on Apr 23, 2011 8:24:11 GMT -5
Part of the demonstration was submitting a petition with nearly 60,000 signatures. We contacted various MEPs, and those from the left and environmental parties were very happy to cooperate in receiving the petition, and to arrange meetings to discuss the issue. Those MEPs from the 'main' parties were much harder to get through to.
Kokopelli is still appealing the fine, and their lawyer was at this demonstration talking with people. The case is now going to the court of human rights, together with a general challenge to the EU seed laws. We can only hope...
The main issues being considered in the new EU seed law is how to recover the costs of seed registration, do they continue in the same way they are only collect more fees from business or should they outsource everything to the seed industry and let them regulate themselves?! Should they continue with mandatory registration of varieties, or should they make it optional, effectively legalizing saving your own seeds but also clearing the way for GMOs and patented seeds to be sold along side like in the US? Included in their analysis is the number of jobs that would be created or lost, and the costs to the be paid by the EU, and they want you to argue your position along these lines... To be honest, it's really just all fucked, but the issue is too important to just ignore.
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Post by toad on May 4, 2011 14:57:07 GMT -5
I agree, this is very important.
I think one of the difficulties for many politicians is to understand, that seeds do matter, not only for a handful of seed companies, but for ordinary citizens as well.
Also, I believe they do not make a connection between seed laws and taking care of diversity.
There is still time this month to respond, as they do try to include some open democracy in the process of decision making.
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Post by PatrickW on May 28, 2011 8:33:37 GMT -5
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Post by toad on May 29, 2011 14:05:20 GMT -5
I cannot answer the public consultation, as my English is not sufficiently developed to understand the to me strange language in it. I've given my input to Lila Towle, who born American and chairman of Danish seed savers, can give a much better response, than I can. There are so many expressions I don't understand in this context. A word like stakeholder really puzzles me, but there are many more.
I would say it's a problem, that some of us citizens of Europe do not understand what it's all about.
Generally I understand English with much more ease than German, but when it comes to legal language, I find German much more logic and straight forward.
I'm very happy some of you respond!!!
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Post by MikeH on May 30, 2011 3:28:06 GMT -5
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Post by MikeH on May 30, 2011 3:38:37 GMT -5
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Post by PatrickW on May 30, 2011 6:27:57 GMT -5
I find the English difficult too! I think it's not so much legal English, as it is politician-speak. I don't think you need to worry about understanding it all in order to make a submission, and you shouldn't be afraid of just putting your own name on it if you aren't associated with an organization (in other words it's okay to be an organization of one). The important thing is to communicate your unhappiness with their plans.
They are apparently still accepting submissions, perhaps until the end of the day here which is 6pm eastern time in the US.
Thanks to everyone who has already made a submission.
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Post by PatrickW on May 30, 2011 6:36:28 GMT -5
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Post by klorentz on Jun 3, 2011 11:20:37 GMT -5
Are there any updates? I realize I am not an EU citizen but such legislation could have a ripple affect on other countries which very much becomes a US concern.
Kevin
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