Seed Network and COAG applaud the PE by the rejection of the EC on the marketing of seed.

BOTH ENTITIES CONSIDERED THAT THE COMMISSION'S PROPOSAL DID NOT GUARANTEE THE PROTECTION OF FARMERS' RIGHTS.

The Agriculture and Rural Development Commission, COMAGRI, of the European Parliament, ON, rejected the Proposal for a Regulation of Parliament and of the Council regarding the production and marketing of plant reproductive materials that had been in the works since the middle of last year.And also at the end of January the Environment Committee did the same, Public Health and Food Safety (COMENVI). In both cases it is argued that the proposal has been unable to meet the objectives of simplifying regulations and promoting innovation., and even point out that issues relating to genetic resources have not been properly addressed.

The proposal has been followed by a multitude of European organizations linked to the defense of farmers' rights to sell their own seeds and the dynamic management of cultivated biodiversity and which have requested its rejection on numerous occasions., fundamentally because the proposal was not adequate to protect the rights of the farmer to cultivate, sell and exchange your own seeds.

Both organizations recall that the proposal is part of a package of measures proposed by the EC to reinforce the application of health and safety standards throughout the agri-food chain., which should be rejected by the EP to avoid the privatization of public control of seeds and the imposition of barriers for artisanal and small-scale production, as the European Coordinator Vía Campesina has denounced these days, of which COAG is a part.

Regarding agricultural biodiversity, from the Seed Network and COAG have been sent this week to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and environment (MAGRAMA) a working document and opinion related to local varieties and free seeds (7), and in which respect for the right of farmers to use, exchange and sell your own seeds.

This right must remain outside the scope of this legislation.. Farmers who sell seeds directly as a complement to their activity must be exempt from the same requirements as other operators..

Also, that artisanal microenterprises that produce and market seeds of local varieties need rules adapted to their activity, completely different from that carried out by large seed companies with delocalized production and kilometer distribution.. Remember that adapted rules are necessary for the registration of varieties for organic farming and low-input agriculture..

At last, point out that farmers and consumers must have the possibility of choosing the food they consume and the plants they grow. Demandamos transparencia en los métodos de selección utilizados para generar las variedades y la propiedad intelectual que gestiona su uso. Esta información debe constar obligatoriamente en el etiquetado.