CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

Community rules on “Farm-saved seed”.

J. GENNATAS

European Commission

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

SummaryI. Introduction:

– System of Community plant variety rights

– Use of farm-saved seed from protected varieties

– “The agricultural exemption” or “farmer’s privilege”

II Article 14 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94: – Derogation from Community plant variety rights

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

Summary (ctd)

III Commission implementing Regulation (EC) No 1768/95:

Implementing rules for the derogation- Remuneration- Information to be supplied- Monitoring methods- Infringements

IV Conclusion

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

System of Community Plant Variety Rights

established by

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2100/94of 17 July 1994

(= basic Regulation)

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

Farm-Saved Seed

• Relevance: - public- for safeguarding agricultural production

• Farmers must have the right to use the product of their harvest for propagation, including when this product is from protected varieties.

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

Derogation from the system of Community plant variety rights

– the Agricultural Exemption

or

– Farmer’s Privilege

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

Article 14 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94

Its implementing regulation, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1768/95

The Agricultural Exemption is governed by

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

Conditions for the Agricultural Exemption= Derogation from the system of Community plant variety rights

Article 14 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 and farm-saved seed:

Use for propagation purposes in the field

Use on farmers’ own holdings

21 agricultural plant species covered

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

Agricultural plant species to which the derogation may apply

A. Forage plants 1) Cicer arietinum L. - Chickpea2) Lupinus luteus L. – Yellow lupin3) Medicago sativa L. – Lucerne4) Pisum sativum L. (partim) – Field pea5) Trifolium alexandrinum L. – Egyptian clover6) Trifolium resupinatum L. – Persian clover7) Vicia faba – Field bean8) Vicia sativa L. – Common vetch9) Lolium multiflorum Lam – Italian ryegrass.

*Species 1) to 8) for the entire Community  + Species 9) for Portugal

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

Agricultural plant species to which the derogation may apply

B. Cereals - 9 species1) Avena sativa – Oats 2) Hordeum vulgare L. – Barley 3) Oryza sativa L. – Rice 4) Phalaris canariensis L. – Canary grass5) Secale cereale L. – Rye6) X Triticosecale Wittm. – Triticale7) Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori et Paol. –

Wheat8) Triticum durum Desf. – Durum wheat9) Triticum spelta L. - Spelt.

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

Agricultural plant species to which the derogation may apply

C. Potatoes - 1 species

Solanum tuberosum – Potatoes.D. Oil and fibre plants - 3 species

Brassica napus L. (partim) – Rapeseed Brassica rapa L. (partim) – Turnip rape Linum usitatissimum - Linseed, excluding fibre flax.

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

Agricultural plant species to which the derogation may apply

21 species for the entire Community

(22 for Portugal)

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

Conditions for the Agricultural Exemption= Derogation from the system of Community plant variety

rights (ctd)

Article 14 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 and farm-saved seed:

No quantitative restriction

The product of the harvest may be processed by farmers or by service providers

Payment of equitable remuneration to holders (except for small farmers)

Monitoring is the responsibility of holders

Information provided, under certain conditions, by the official bodies responsible for monitoring

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

Derogation from the system of Community plant variety rights

Commission implementing Regulation (EC) No 1768/95 on farm-saved seed:

Farmers’ obligations:

– Equitable remuneration with or without a contract

– Small farmers are exempt from payment

– Relevant information must be provided

Processors’ obligations:

– Relevant information must be provided

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

Derogation from the system of Community plant variety rights (ctd)

Commission implementing Regulation (EC) No 1768/95 on farm-saved seed:

Holders’ obligations:

– Information must be provided to farmers

Information provided by official bodies

Holders’ monitoring obligations

Infringements

CPVO Seminar11-12 May 2006 - Warsaw (PL)

Conclusion

• Farm-saved seed is extensively used in the Community, particularly as regards potatoes and cereals.

• This large-scale use is currently a matter of concern for:

- breeders of new agricultural plant varieties, and also - holders and- farmers in the European Union who use these varieties- the European Commission.

• Relevance of the seminars organised by the CPVO