ESA European Seed Association

Problems breeders face when Problems breeders face when enforcing their rightsenforcing their rights

Bert ScholteTechnical Director – ESA

Regional seminar on enforcement of PVR – Warsaw 11-12.05.06

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TopicsTopics

1. Introduction

2. Vegetable crops

- examples

3. Agricultural crops

- examples

4. Conclusions

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1 - Introduction1 - Introduction

ESA Members

Association members:33 National Seed Associations – 19 countries

Individual Members41 Individual Seed Companies

Associate MembershipBulgaria, Turkey, Serbia – Montenegro

Observers2 companies

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02468

10121416182022

ESA Individual Members

Euro

<25 Mio

<50 Mio

<75 Mio

<100 Mio

<150 Mio

<200 Mio

<250 Mio

<325 Mio

<450 Mio

EU Turnover

Total:

Number of companies

Association Members: 33 National Association Members from 19 EU Member States representing > 400 Companies covering plant breeding, seed production and marketing

41 Individual Members:

turnover

1 - ESA Members1 - ESA Members

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1 - Investment in Plant Breeding1 - Investment in Plant Breeding

Seed business : Seed business : investment in research : 12-15% turnoverinvestment in research : 12-15% turnover

- need for strong Intellectual Property Protection

- effective means of enforcing IP rights

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1 - ESA – Mission statement1 - ESA – Mission statement

ESA is the voice of the European seed industry, representing the interests of those active in research, breeding, production and marketing of seeds of agricultural, horticultural and ornamental plant species.

   ESA's mission is to work for

effective protection of intellectual property relating to plants and seeds;fair and proportionate regulation of the European seed industry;freedom of choice for customers (farmers, growers, industry, consumers) in supplying seeds as a result of innovative, diverse technologies

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ESA BoardPresident

Elected by General

Assembly

Vice-PresidentElected by

General Assembly

TreasurerElected by

General Assembly

Members at largeElected by

General Assembly

Committee Chairmen Proposed by ESA Board

Section ChairmenElected by Section

Working Group Seed Treatment & Technology - STAT

Committee Regulatory and Legal Affairs

CRLA

ESAGeneral

Secretariat

CommitteeIntellectual Property and Breeders

Rights CIPR

Section BeetsSBE

Section Cereals and

Pulses SCP

Section Forage

Plants & Amenity

Grasses SFG

Section MaizeSMA

Section Potatoes

SPO

Section Oil and Fibre

SOF

Section Vegetables

and Ornamentals

SVO

G E N E R A L A S S E M B L YAssociation & Individual & Associate Members

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2 - Vegetables2 - Vegetables

Infringement – increasing problem

2005 – set up of Working Groups

Germplasm misappropriation

Misappropriation of brands, logo’s and packaging material

(Vegetative) reproduction of seed propagated varieties

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2 - Vegetable crops - examples2 - Vegetable crops - examples

SVO Working Groups

Germplasm misappropriationF1 hybrids sold under a different name

F2 seeds sold under the name of the hybrid

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2 - Vegetable crops - examples2 - Vegetable crops - examples

Parental Lines A x B

F1 - hybrid AB

F2 - hybrid segregating population

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2 - Vegetable crops - examples2 - Vegetable crops - examples

SVO Working Groups

Misappropriation of brands, logo’s and packaging material

Sales under a brand or logo of a major seed company

Forgery and re-use of packages

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2 - Vegetable crops - examples2 - Vegetable crops - examples

SVO Working Groups

(Vegetative) reproduction of seed propagated varieties

Open pollinated varieties

Hybrids

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2 - Vegetable crops 2 - Vegetable crops

Outcome of SVO Working groupsMonitoring

Legal actions by individual companies

PR campaign to inform growers

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2 - Vegetables – enforcement problems 2 - Vegetables – enforcement problems

Evidence Own initiative

Gathering of evidence on the spot

Involvement of examination offices

Use of CPVO examination reports

Court casesOne competent court

Costs

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GeneralGeneral

Essentially Derived VarietiesUPOV ’91 – art 14.5

Lack of provisions to assess

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3 - Agricultural crops3 - Agricultural crops

Black market ( sales of uncertified seed )

Farm Saved SeedOpen pollinated varieties

Hybrids

Use of Varieties not listed on the Common Catalogue ( grasses )

Duration of Plant Breeders Rights ( potato )

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3 - FSS3 - FSS

Task Force on FSS set up in 2005Magnitude of the problem

Possibilities for improvement

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3 - UPOV 19913 - UPOV 1991

Art 15.2 Exceptions to the Breeder’s Right

Provides for the use of FSS

Within reasonable limits

Subject to the safeguarding of the legitimate interest of the breeder

Optional exception

ESA is not in favor of implementation in National Law

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3 – Farm Saved Seed3 – Farm Saved Seed

Information received from 19 EU Member States12 Old MS except Greece, Luxemburg, Portugal

7 New MS except Cyprus, Malta, Slovenia

Area covered (2004)44.000.000 ha - cereals

17.800.000 ha - winter wheat

6.400.000 ha - spring barley

6.200.000 ha - winter barley

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3 - FSS cereals – Area 20043 - FSS cereals – Area 2004

Crop Area % FSS Area FSS

Winter wheat 17.8 54 9.7

Winter barley 6.2 56 3.4

Rye 2.7 78 2.1

Triticale 2.3 62 1.4

Durum wheat 3.3 1 0.03

Spring wheat 1.3 75 0.9

Spring barley 6.4 45 2.9

Oats 2.5 69 1.7

Mixed Cereals 1.4 90 1.26

Total 44 53 23.5

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3 - FSS Potatoes – area 20043 - FSS Potatoes – area 2004

Potato area: 2.280.000 ha

Seed potatoes: 113.000 ha

% FSS: 63 % ( 23% - 96% )

Area planted using FSS: 1.430.000 ha

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3 - FSS Poland - 20043 - FSS Poland - 2004

Area (ha) % FSS

Cereals 7.800.000 92

Potatoes 765.000 94

Oilseed rape 538.000 35

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3 – FSS 3 – FSS

Legal framework: Art 14 – Basic Regulation (2100/94)

Limited to a restricted number of agricultural crops

Subject to the payment of an equitable remuneration to the breeder

Farmers are required to supply information on the use of FSS

Relevant info may be provided by official bodies

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3 - FSS3 - FSS

Countries – functioning systemsCzech Republic, Finland, France (wheat), Holland, Ireland, UK

Other countriesNo systems in place yetDifficulties in obtaining information on the use of FSS

Involvement official authorities neededDefinitions in Legal framework to be revised

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4 - Conclusions4 - Conclusions

Vegetable cropsIncrease of infringements

Need for protection of inbred lines and hybrids Need to reduce costs

Difficulties in gathering evidence

Need for specialized courts

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4 - Conclusions4 - Conclusions

Agricultural cropsNeed for involvement of official bodies – FSS

Need for amendments in the legal framework

Need for specialized courts

ESA European Seed Association

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

Contact details:

ESARue Luxembourg 23 - B-1000 Brussels

Tel: +32-2-7432860www.euroseeds.org