National Farmers Union calls for action against proposed changes to the Plant Breeders Rights Act
The NFU strongly objects to recently-proposed changes to the Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) Act. The organization also warns that PBR Act changes are just one part of a larger seed system overhaul that will heap restrictions and costs onto farmers. Mirroring many recommendations of the industry-led Seed Sector Review, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recently released proposed PBR Act changes. These changes would bestow new rights on transnational seed companies, including longer royalty periods and the power to seize crops if farmers can't prove they paid seed royalties. At the same time, new PBR legislation might give farmers a limited, short-term privilege to save and re-use their own seed.
Terry Boehm said the medium-term goal is clear: end farmers' rights to save and re-use their seeds. The proposed PBR Act changes would grant corporations the key powers they need to stop farmers from re-using seeds. The changes would clearly outlaw seed saving and grant corporations powerful new enforcement tools. The proposal is to possibly give farmers an exemption that would allow limited seed saving and re-use. But farmers who have watched as patents, contracting, and Plant Breeders Rights laws have increasingly restricted our rights will know that any farmer privilege is only a temporary concession. Farmers need to draw a line in the sand and say a resounding no to any further restrictions on our traditional practices of seed usage,
said Boehm.
Farmers and others have less than 60 days to comment to the CFIA on its proposed changes.
For more information, or to get a copy of a petition against the proposed changes, visit the National Farmers Union website.