November 2023 - Npos_2018 - lists.testbiotech.de

Update NL
by Johanna Eckhardt 13 Nov '23

13 Nov '23

Dear Nout, thanks for the update. Didn't the NL resolution ask for a clear prohibition of patents on conventional breeding? But the EC study planned for 2026 (on the impact of plant patents) is in the frame of the NGT regulation. So no direct link, right? As far as I understood (from Dagmar) the process of the study can't really be speeded up, because they have to consult stakeholders, etc. and this takes time. The only thing that can be asked is to postpone the NGT regulation until having more info on the consequences. Great if you can do a follow up - and that the topic is in the election program. On the EPO level, the EPO will present a report on biopatents at the Committee on Patent Law on 16 Nov. that will most probably be discussed at the Admin. Council meeting on 13/14 Dec. We will most probably use this to contact the member states before the Admin Council. Kind regards, Johanna Mag. Johanna ECKHARDT Project Coordination Tel. +43 680 21 26 343 <mailto:johanna.eckhardt@no-patents-on-seeds.org> johanna.eckhardt(a)no-patents-on-seeds.org NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! <http://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/> www.no-patents-on-seeds.org <http://www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds> www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds <http://www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed> www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed Von: Nout van der Vaart <nout.vandervaart(a)oxfamnovib.nl> Gesendet: Montag, 6. November 2023 16:53 An: Johanna Eckhardt <johanna.eckhardt(a)no-patents-on-seeds.org>; npos_2018(a)testbiotech.de Betreff: RE: [Npos_2018] IMPORTANT: Conference call November Hi all, Sorry for my absence in the call, I couldn't make it due to personal circumstances. I would like to share one update though: The Dutch Minister of Agriculture - pushed for by Parliament (following up on the June 8 resolution <https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/moties/detail?id=2023Z10491&did=202 3D25147> that called upon him to work together with EU colleagues to make the EPO stop issuing patents on conventionally bred plants) - during the Sept 5 EU Informal Council <https://spanish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/events/informal-ministeri al-meeting-on-agriculture-3-59/> (of Agricultural ministers) meeting, asked for the expedition of a EC study on this topic that was originally planned for 2026. With this, he accounts for 'having given follow up to the said resolution'. Although this is a somewhat positive step by the Dutch Ag minister, it's obviously not enough, nor a fully satisfying move. Therefore I'm planning to reach out to the MP (of the Christian Reformist Party <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformed_Political_Party> ) who submitted the resolution to discuss possible follow up steps on this topic. Interesting thing is that they included the enforcement of the EU prohibition on patenting conventionally bred plants in their election program (Dutch parliamentary elections taking place on Nov 22). Perhaps the above is good to know for organizations in this network working on the same. One might consider following up with other European country Ag ministries/EU delegations to (at least) indeed expedite the EC study, or, better, to give more ambitious follow up on keeping the EPO from further issuing patents on plants. Best, Nout From: Npos_2018 <npos_2018-bounces(a)testbiotech.de <mailto:npos_2018-bounces@testbiotech.de> > On Behalf Of Johanna Eckhardt Sent: Thursday, November 2, 2023 8:03 PM To: npos_2018(a)testbiotech.de <mailto:npos_2018@testbiotech.de> Subject: [Npos_2018] IMPORTANT: Conference call November Dear all, please find below the Zoom details for the English and the German call as well as the agenda. Attached the updated NPOS calendar. Kind regards, Johanna English call: Monday, 6 November 15h-16.30h CET. Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83561913189?pwd=UWpLa2RSSzYxOTlHVGIyL1FmWjlZQT09 Meeting ID: 835 6191 3189 Passcode: 039122 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kLpdTGOFH German call: Tuesday, 7 November 10h-11.30h CET Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87333735242?pwd=Q0R2SGEwV1hkUlFyby9ZUjN6SXhEdz09 Meeting ID: 873 3373 5242 Passcode: 791374 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kccVu94iG Agenda 1. Updates 1.1. from countries / member organisations * LLD forum Ireland /27.10. patent workshop (Katherine?) 1.2. NPOS * demonstration in Munich on 5 October * NGT-Conference Vienna 11 October * meeting with COM on 7 November 2. Next steps 2.1. 27 Nov. / patent event in Denmark 2.2. Admin. Council meeting 13/14 December * discussion about patents? * activity? 2.3. Campaign seed stickers 2024 3. Other 3.1. NGTs and patents 3.2. regulation on plant reproductive material and patents 3.3. Meeting of members 2024, date 3.4. Next conference call Mag. Johanna ECKHARDT Project Coordination Tel. +43 680 21 26 343 <mailto:johanna.eckhardt@no-patents-on-seeds.org> johanna.eckhardt(a)no-patents-on-seeds.org NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! <http://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/> www.no-patents-on-seeds.org <http://www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds> www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds <http://www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed> www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed Von: Npos_2018 <npos_2018-bounces(a)testbiotech.de <mailto:npos_2018-bounces@testbiotech.de> > Im Auftrag von Johanna Eckhardt Gesendet: Donnerstag, 5. Oktober 2023 21:25 An: npos_2018(a)testbiotech.de <mailto:npos_2018@testbiotech.de> Betreff: [Npos_2018] Conference call November Dear all, let's fix our next conference call for Monday, 6 November 15h-16.30h CET. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83561913189?pwd=UWpLa2RSSzYxOTlHVGIyL1FmWjlZQT09 Meeting ID: 835 6191 3189 Passcode: 039122 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kLpdTGOFH Kind regards, Johanna Mag. Johanna ECKHARDT Project Coordination Tel. +43 680 21 26 343 johanna.eckhardt(a)no-patents-on-seeds.org <mailto:johanna.eckhardt@no-patents-on-seeds.org> NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! <http://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/> www.no-patents-on-seeds.org <http://www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds> www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds <http://www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed> www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed

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New version - Proposal: NPOS to sign letter to EU Agri Ministers?
by ARCHE NOAH Dagmar Urban 13 Nov '23

13 Nov '23

Dear all, there is a new version of the letter to the EU Agri ministers after a few more comments and discussions (especially from Via Campesina and Greenpeace), you can find the very final version here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wx1KqluPUcUHOxIRf7lLVw-hu0h0RfOFjyLd5AD… If anyone disagrees with signing the new version as NPOS please write to the list until Wednesday (15th) early evening. It’s clearly phrased a bit differently as we could if it was an NPOS letter, but I still think it’s very good letter at a very important time in the political process and together with a few more really important organisations. Best, Dagmar Von: Dagmar Urban Gesendet: Mittwoch, 25. Oktober 2023 23:18 An: 'a.riekeberg(a)jpberlin.de' <a.riekeberg(a)jpberlin.de> Cc: npos_2018(a)testbiotech.de Betreff: AW: [Npos_2018] Proposal: NPOS to sign letter to EU Agri Ministers? Dear all, Thanks a lot for your first quick reactions! @Andreas, yes, you are correct, I’ll feed that into the proofreading process, thank you very much! Cheers, Dagmar Von: a.riekeberg(a)jpberlin.de<mailto:a.riekeberg@jpberlin.de> <a.riekeberg(a)jpberlin.de<mailto:a.riekeberg@jpberlin.de>> Gesendet: Mittwoch, 25. Oktober 2023 11:18 An: Dagmar Urban <dagmar.urban(a)arche-noah.at<mailto:dagmar.urban@arche-noah.at>> Cc: npos_2018(a)testbiotech.de<mailto:npos_2018@testbiotech.de> Betreff: Re: [Npos_2018] Proposal: NPOS to sign letter to EU Agri Ministers? Dear all, yes, NPOS should sign. Question 1: is by the sentence "to enforce the ban on conventional seeds and plants" meant -> " to enforce the ban OF PATENTS on conventional seeds and plants"? Question 2: "The proposed report on the impact that the patenting of plants" -> "The proposed report on the impact OF the patenting of plants" Kind regards Andreas Am 24.10.2023 22:05, schrieb ARCHE NOAH Dagmar Urban: Dear all, We were asked by Global2000/Friends of the Earth if the NPOS coalition could sign a letter to the EU Agricultural ministers about patents. The letter has the debate in the Agri Council on New GMOs in November as the occasion for sending it, but covers both issues, patents on conventional seeds and patents on new GMOs. I commented on an earlier version of the letter, and sent it to Christoph for a first check. I think it would be great if NPOS signed, as so far we have very often two “divided” groups of organisations working on either patents on conventional seeds or on patents on New GMOs – and this time I think it’s a perfect opportunity to join forces for a strong joint letter reminding the Agri ministers of our demands. The (confidential) almost final version is available here – there will only be one more ending sentence added + someone will proofread it: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15Q8F3iatToyXdRRHLpAKRL5RHjQEzcS6tv3MTD1… If there are any major factual errors, those can of course still be changed. I have also attached a downloaded version for those of you boycotting Google. The aim of the letter is to have a short, 1 page high-level letter, with as little technical language as possible, signed by a few big and umbrella organisations (so NPOS, not individual NPOS members in our case; the same with IFOAM and Friends of the Earth, etc.), because of time constraints. Could you let the list know as soon as possible if you agree that NPOS should sign the letter or if you disagree? Thanks, Dagmar Dagmar Urban Team Saatgutpolitik/ Seed Policy Team ARCHE NOAH Gesellschaft für die Erhaltung der Kulturpflanzenvielfalt und ihre Entwicklung Obere Straße 40, A-3553 Schiltern +43 (0)676 /931 81 80 dagmar.urban(a)arche-noah.at<mailto:dagmar.urban@arche-noah.at> www.arche-noah.at<http://www.arche-noah.at/> ZVR 907994719 Die Vielfalt braucht einen sicheren Platz – jetzt spenden!<https://mitmachen.arche-noah.at/de/ihre-spende-zur-rettung-gef%C3%A4hrdeter…> PS: Kennen Sie schon den ARCHE NOAH Newsletter? Jetzt eine:r von 200.000 Newsletter-Abonnent:innen werden! Gleich hier<https://www.arche-noah.at/newsletter/newsletter-anmelden> anmelden und regelmäßig über Veranstaltungen, Projekte und Aktionen informiert werden _______________________________________________ Npos_2018 mailing list Npos_2018(a)testbiotech.de<mailto:Npos_2018@testbiotech.de> https://lists.testbiotech.de/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/npos_2018

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further interesting findings from recently granted patents
by Christoph Then 09 Nov '23

09 Nov '23

Dear all I studied the file of the BASF patent as recently granted and reduced only to methods of selection (EP3742892). Disappointment: Article 53b was not discussed, only technical reasons. however, for the first time, I found a request that a patent should receive unitary effect (see attached foto). I guess for our next report (maybe earlier), we will research also other cases to find out which of the newly granted patents (or previously granted patents) may go along with similar requests. Then I turned my attention to another patent of KWS just recently granted and also reduced to the methods. However, in this case, it is a method for production, also encompassing the plants produced. Amongst these methods, there is also random mutagenesis (EP 3 447 134), a disclaimer is added. In this case, Art 53 b) was discussed and I found the statement as attached made by the examiners. After that, the claims directed to plants were deleted without further discussions. For me, this is an indication that the criteria for granting patents inheriting specific mutations is not yet settled inside the EPO. so let us keep pushing. cheers Christoph

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no hearing on 29 February
by Christoph Then 08 Nov '23

08 Nov '23

Dear all I just double checked the data on the hearing on 29 February. As far as I can see, there will be no hearing on the patent on the salad EP 3 427 575, the process still seems to be not moving ahead. cheers Christoph PS the 29 February is related to a technical question regarding another patent and will be cancelled.

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IMPORTANT: Conference call November
by Johanna Eckhardt 06 Nov '23

06 Nov '23

Dear all, please find below the Zoom details for the English and the German call as well as the agenda. Attached the updated NPOS calendar. Kind regards, Johanna English call: Monday, 6 November 15h-16.30h CET. Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83561913189?pwd=UWpLa2RSSzYxOTlHVGIyL1FmWjlZQT09 Meeting ID: 835 6191 3189 Passcode: 039122 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kLpdTGOFH German call: Tuesday, 7 November 10h-11.30h CET Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87333735242?pwd=Q0R2SGEwV1hkUlFyby9ZUjN6SXhEdz09 Meeting ID: 873 3373 5242 Passcode: 791374 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kccVu94iG Agenda 1. Updates 1.1. from countries / member organisations * LLD forum Ireland /27.10. patent workshop (Katherine?) 1.2. NPOS * demonstration in Munich on 5 October * NGT-Conference Vienna 11 October * meeting with COM on 7 November 2. Next steps 2.1. 27 Nov. / patent event in Denmark 2.2. Admin. Council meeting 13/14 December * discussion about patents? * activity? 2.3. Campaign seed stickers 2024 3. Other 3.1. NGTs and patents 3.2. regulation on plant reproductive material and patents 3.3. Meeting of members 2024, date 3.4. Next conference call Mag. Johanna ECKHARDT Project Coordination Tel. +43 680 21 26 343 <mailto:johanna.eckhardt@no-patents-on-seeds.org> johanna.eckhardt(a)no-patents-on-seeds.org NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! <http://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/> www.no-patents-on-seeds.org <http://www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds> www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds <http://www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed> www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed Von: Npos_2018 <npos_2018-bounces(a)testbiotech.de> Im Auftrag von Johanna Eckhardt Gesendet: Donnerstag, 5. Oktober 2023 21:25 An: npos_2018(a)testbiotech.de Betreff: [Npos_2018] Conference call November Dear all, let's fix our next conference call for Monday, 6 November 15h-16.30h CET. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83561913189?pwd=UWpLa2RSSzYxOTlHVGIyL1FmWjlZQT09 Meeting ID: 835 6191 3189 Passcode: 039122 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kLpdTGOFH Kind regards, Johanna Mag. Johanna ECKHARDT Project Coordination Tel. +43 680 21 26 343 johanna.eckhardt(a)no-patents-on-seeds.org <mailto:johanna.eckhardt@no-patents-on-seeds.org> NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! <http://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/> www.no-patents-on-seeds.org <http://www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds> www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds <http://www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed> www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed

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interesting patent granted on spinach
by Christoph Then 06 Nov '23

06 Nov '23

Dear all this patent was filed in 2019. The claims as granted only cover processes for identification and usage of the identified genes. These claims are not worded as claims for production of the plants (which would cover the plants as well), they only concern the processes. the original patent application covered the plants, inheriting the genes. It seems the EPO is now trying to reduce the scope of the claims in regard to genetic resources. I think, it is the first case for such type of patents we see for patents being filed after 2017. I will have a look into the documents of the examination procedure. It also will be interesting to see, if companies will file oppositions and appeals. We also should look into Pinto to see if the company claims that the variety is protected by patents (which from my understanding would not be true). It looks like, in future, the only way to claim conventionally bred plants (if applied after July 2017) may become random mutagenesis or new GE patents that are not restricted to the technical processes. This is somehow encouraging, however the traditional breeder still will not be able to use all conventionally bred varieties on the market for further breeding. So let us close the existing loopholes, before they get expanded again. Cheers Christoph

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Administrative Council
by Johanna Eckhardt 02 Nov '23

02 Nov '23

Dear all, the only a little bit interesting point from October's Administrative Council meeting: - "Finally, as part of the implementation of the second set of Basket I measures related to the modernisation of the EPO's external governance, delegations exchanged views on aspects of a proposed policy for the publication of and access to Council documents, so that a revised proposal can be presented at the next Council meeting." https://www.epo.org/xx/legal/official-journal/2023/10/a88/2023-a88.pdf Plus, Moldova is supposed to become the 40th member state of the EPO (not discussed at the AC). Kind regards, Johanna Mag. Johanna ECKHARDT Project Coordination Tel. +43 680 21 26 343 <mailto:johanna.eckhardt@no-patents-on-seeds.org> johanna.eckhardt(a)no-patents-on-seeds.org NO PATENTS ON SEEDS! <http://www.no-patents-on-seeds.org/> www.no-patents-on-seeds.org <http://www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds> www.facebook.com/nopatentsonseeds <http://www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed> www.twitter.com/nopatentsonseed

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