January 2024 - Npos_2018 - lists.testbiotech.de

Tomorrow's press release Lettuce
by Johanna Eckhardt 31 Jan '24

31 Jan '24

Dear all, please find attached * the final Backgrounder (pdf/word) * the press release (almost final, I still have to add the link to the backgrounder) You can still send important corrections today. We'll send it out tomorrow morning. 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

1 0

Press release for tomorrow - final drafts de and en
by Christoph Then 31 Jan '24

31 Jan '24

dear all please see attached the draft press release for tomorrow. Quotes are given to Katherine and Nout and Johanna. we also will use parts of this text to inform the EU Parliament. Changes still possible, if necessary, please inform Johanna and me. Johanna will not work on layout and final edits. thanks for your comments! Christoph

1 0

! draft PE on lettuce for this week (deutsch und Englisch) / short period of comments
by Christoph Then 30 Jan '24

30 Jan '24

please give your comments asap (till tomorrow), please take a quote if interested. the background still is under review and will be recirculated today.

3 2

once more, final draft version of the lettuce backgrounder
by Christoph Then 30 Jan '24

30 Jan '24

final comments asap to me an Johanna which will start to prepared a layout version. we also manged to send this version to experts in Poland already.

1 0

Fwd: [New-gm-eur] Article on patents linked to EP debate
by Christoph Then 30 Jan '24

30 Jan '24

Fyi: the right message brought forward by Eric Gall, IFOAM. https://sciencebusiness.net/news/agrifood/european-parliament-proposal-ban-…

1 0

! revised version of the backgrounder on lettuce patent - fast track editing - quick round of comments
by Christoph Then 29 Jan '24

29 Jan '24

Dear all please see attached a revised version of the backgrounder after editing. please send any comments you may have asap. we were asked to provide the text as quick as possible to some experts of EU Member States. text for media is still under prep. we will officially release this text Thursday or Friday this week. cheers Christoph

1 0

WG: [New-gm-eur] Belgium still trying
by ARCHE NOAH Katherine Dolan 29 Jan '24

29 Jan '24

FYI Coincidentally, the first example they cite is a Rijk Zwaan patent on lettuce… Von: New-gm-eur <new-gm-eur-bounces(a)lists.corporateeurope.org> Im Auftrag von Helene Schmutzler via New-gm-eur Gesendet: Freitag, 26. Jänner 2024 13:02 An: new-gm-eur(a)lists.corporateeurope.org; lukasz.janeczko(a)instytut.lodz.pl Betreff: Re: [New-gm-eur] Belgium still trying Hello all, In the meantime, we received the following information about the presidencies’ effort to get Poland on board: Latest news is that the Polish Ministry is still against the proposal, mainly because of the possibility of no opt-out measures. The Belgian presidency knows that the Polish minister is not ready to vote yes. So, they send a new text proposal to Polish Government and address Tusk directly to convince POL to vote yes. They have time until Tuesday to decide. We are mobilizing our Polish members, who have also been doing excellent work in the Coalition of Living Land (coalition of 22 NGOs), to see if they may be able to do a public communication on this. Warm regards, Helene Schmutzler (She/her) Rue Marie-Thérèse 11 Policy Coordinator on GMOs and Animal Welfare +32 2 41 65 232 BE - 1000 Brussels www.organicseurope.bio<http://www.organicseurope.bio/> VAT number: BE 0881.175.417 [cid:image009.png@01DA5058.7E3EF410]<https://www.organicseurope.bio/> Representing the entire organic food chain in European policymaking. Advocating for a transformation of food and farming based on the principles of organic agriculture – health, ecology, fairness and care. [cid:image010.jpg@01DA5058.7E3EF410] <https://twitter.com/OrganicsEurope> [cid:image011.jpg@01DA5058.7E3EF410] <https://www.linkedin.com/company/organicseurope/> [cid:image012.jpg@01DA5058.7E3EF410] <https://www.facebook.com/OrganicsEurope> [cid:image013.jpg@01DA5058.7E3EF410] <https://www.instagram.com/organicseurope/> Subscribe to our newsletter<https://www.organicseurope.bio/newsletter/> [cid:image007.png@01DA5057.DF42BA40]<https://www.organicseurope.bio/events/biofach-2024-2/> From: New-gm-eur <new-gm-eur-bounces(a)lists.corporateeurope.org<mailto:new-gm-eur-bounces@lists.corporateeurope.org>> On Behalf Of Mute Schimpf via New-gm-eur Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2024 6:55 PM To: new-gm-eur(a)lists.corporateeurope.org<mailto:new-gm-eur@lists.corporateeurope.org> Subject: Re: [New-gm-eur] Belgium still trying Dear all, Thanks for the update, not everybody might have read it, shared by Nina this week, in Politico it was mentioned that now three more governments are reluctant to support the proposal in Council/Coreper. We haven't figured yet, which ones. I would say, enough to do us in Germany to push the minister for more ambitious demands on coexistence and patents, Reach out to official in Greece and Cyprus that a recital about coexistence is legally to weak to protect their agriculture on island In Romania to reaffirm that export markets are threatened with hidden contamination of NGT1 Refresh the memory of Luxembourg that they always opposed GMOs Check in Austria, Croatia, HUngary Slovenia and Slovakia what the thinking and debate in the ministries are if they can share insides with us. Best Mute On 25/01/2024 13:12, ACHTERBERG Franziska via New-gm-eur wrote: Hi, While Planas claims there is no chance to get this done before the elections, the Belgians are still trying. I hear they are now talking to PL about waiving licencing fees for small breeders, to "solve" the patent issue. They may also try to "sell" them something on trade with Ukraine. The Belgian Presidency has put the item on next week's COREPER agenda... Let's remain vigilant in PL, FR and other countries that Belgium could bring into the majority. Best, Franziska ------ Franziska Achterberg Biodiversity Campaigner Greens/EFA Group, European Parliament e. Franziska.Achterberg(a)europarl.europa.eu<mailto:Franziska.Achterberg@europarl.europa.eu> t. +32 2 284 3077 m. +32 498 362 403 -----Original Message----- From: New-gm-eur <new-gm-eur-bounces(a)lists.corporateeurope.org><mailto:new-gm-eur-bounces@lists.corporateeurope.org> On Behalf Of anthony.jackson--- via New-gm-eur Sent: 25 January 2024 11:03 To: new-gm-eur(a)lists.corporateeurope.org<mailto:new-gm-eur@lists.corporateeurope.org> Subject: [New-gm-eur] “[NGTs] are a battle that will continue for months to come,” “[NGTs] are a battle that will continue for months to come,” French socialist MEP Christophe Cleargeau, shadow rapporteur on the file, told Euractiv after the committee meeting, adding that the vote was “just the beginning”. The EU Council will “not be able to conclude the dossier” before the end of the legislative mandate, but it could “make progress” on some issues, Spanish agriculture minister Luis Planas said before the AGRIFISH meeting on Tuesday. https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/eu-parliament-gives-… EU Parliament gives first green light to new rules for gene-edited plants By Maria Simon Arboleas | EURACTIV Est. 4min 24 Jan 2024 Content-Type: News MEPs in the European Parliament’s ENVI Committee voted on the Commission’s proposal for new rules on innovative types of gene-edited plans, which currently fall under the more restrictive genetically modified organisms (GMO) framework. [European Union] The European Parliament’s Environment Committee (ENVI) approved on Wednesday (24 January) new rules for new genomic techniques (NGTs). The plenary will vote in two weeks, but doubts remain on whether a law can be approved before the elections. MEPs in the European Parliament’s ENVI Committee on Wednesday voted on the Commission’s proposal for new rules on innovative types of gene-edited plans, which currently fall under the more restrictive genetically modified organisms (GMO) framework. With 47 votes in favour to 31 against and 4 abstentions, a right-leaning majority agreed to set two categories of NGTs: gene-edited plants that are “indistinguishable” from those obtained through conventional breeding (NGT 1) – which would be exempted from the requirements of the GMO legislation – and those with more “complex modifications” (NGT 2) – which would follow stricter rules. In line with the Commission’s proposal, presented in July, MEPs agreed that NGT seeds must be labelled accordingly but that there would be no mandatory labelling at consumer level for the NGT 1 products. Lawmakers also voted to keep all NGTs out of organic production – claiming their compatibility “requires further attention” – and to prevent EU countries from banning them in their territory. While the EU executive decided to leave the question of patents unanswered, MEPs voted to introduce a full ban on patents for NGTs “to avoid legal uncertainties, increased costs and new dependencies for farmers and breeders”. However, the EU organics association IFOAM said in a press release that addressing the issue of patents “with an amendment and a report” was “wishful thinking”. Despite the proposed new rules for NGTs, the overarching legal framework for biotechnologies has remained unchanged, i.e. the 1998 directive on the legal protection of biotechnological interventions. “It’s just the beginning” “[NGTs] are a battle that will continue for months to come,” French socialist MEP Christophe Cleargeau, shadow rapporteur on the file, told Euractiv after the committee meeting, adding that the vote was “just the beginning”. The European Parliament is expected to vote on the proposed law in plenary on 6 February, but it is uncertain whether the Parliament and the Council will be able to strike a deal before the end of the legislature. EU countries are still discussing it under the Belgian Presidency of the EU council. The biggest rift between member states is over the patentability of NGT-based products, according to sources close to the matter. The EU Council will “not be able to conclude the dossier” before the end of the legislative mandate, but it could “make progress” on some issues, Spanish agriculture minister Luis Planas said before the AGRIFISH meeting on Tuesday. On the same day, Polish Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski insisted that Poland – one of the member states seen as key to unlocking the dossier – does not want “to allow the patenting of NGT 1 plants”. Greens and NGOs react At the ENVI meeting, Green MEP Martin Hausling accused the Commission of “not bearing in mind consumer rights”, adding that there is “no guarantee” that NGT plants would not pose a lower risk for human health and the environment. Many NGOs also sounded the alarm about the potential risks of NGTs, which they claim should be regulated as GMOs. Greenpeace said in a press release that the law could violate EU principles “because rules on safety checks, labelling and traceability are removed or watered down”. “[The law] could also violate the fundamental rights of farmers to property and the freedom to run a business,” reads the press statement, “because it does not provide sufficient protection against the contamination of crops with new GMOs”. IFOAM called for a delay of the plenary vote, claiming the committee vote left “many issues unsolved” – such as measures to ensure coexistence between organic and conventional farming. _______________________________________________ New-gm-eur mailing list New-gm-eur(a)lists.corporateeurope.org<mailto:New-gm-eur@lists.corporateeurope.org> http://lists.corporateeurope.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/new-gm-eur _______________________________________________ New-gm-eur mailing list New-gm-eur(a)lists.corporateeurope.org<mailto:New-gm-eur@lists.corporateeurope.org> http://lists.corporateeurope.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/new-gm-eur -- Mute Schimpf | Food Campaigner | Friends of the Earth Europe Rue d’Edimbourg 26, 1050 Brussels, Belgium Email: mute.schimpf(a)foeeurope.org<mailto:%20mute.schimpf@foeeurope.org> |+32 2893 10 38 | Skype: mute.schimpf EU Transparency Register no. 9825553393-31 friendsoftheearth.eu | facebook.com/foeeurope<http://www.facebook.com/foeeurope> | twitter.com/foeeurope<http://twitter.com/foeeurope> [https://friendsoftheearth.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Signature_graphic_g…]<http://www.friendsoftheearth.eu/>

1 1

new backgrounder on patents on lettuce
by Christoph Then 28 Jan '24

28 Jan '24

Dear all please see a draft for a new backgrounder on patents on lettuce. we try to use the hearing on 7 February also to inform the Member States and the EU Parliament about the case and its legal implications. The Parliament will have a vote on 7 February on NGT plants and patents, therefore this information may find some attention. Similarly, the EU Council is discussing NGTs and patents. we want to release this backgrounder on 2 February, therefore I will send it to the native speaker for edits right away. Please keep your comments targeted, so we can keep the timeline. I also will prepare shorter information in German and English for interested media. Cheers Christoph

1 0

how to go on with media work on lettuce
by Christoph Then 25 Jan '24

25 Jan '24

Dear all I made some research on patent application on lettuce from last ten years (around 30) and found interesting examples, including random mutagenesis and overlap with CRISPR patents. It looks like we can exemplify the problem with current legislation. We also expect some update from Johanna on Pinto. In addition we can explain the pending case in the hearing and its climate relevance. this should be enough material for a short backgrounder. However, I would not go for media conference. As you might know, on 6 or 7 February the EP will vote on NGTs, with patents having a high profile. I suggest to publish a short backgrounder on 2nd February, going along with some mails to MEPs. I try to come up with draft soon. Cheers Christoph

1 0

Commission presentation
by ARCHE NOAH Katherine Dolan 25 Jan '24

25 Jan '24

Dear all, At the conference call on Monday, I mentioned that DG Grow presented on patents at a Council Working Group meeting on NGTS. I attach the powerpoint. It is concerning (but not surprising) they refer (e.g. slide 5) only to the challenges for and "agritech market players". We and others should communicate this is also, and in particular, about farmers and organic and small plant breeders, and they should also be taken into account in the study. Best, Katherine Katherine Dolan Leitung Team Saatgutpolitik / Head of Seed Policy ARCHE NOAH Gesellschaft für die Erhaltung der Kulturpflanzenvielfalt und ihre Entwicklung / Association for the Conservation and Development of Cultivated Plant Diversity Obere Straße 40, 3553 Schiltern, Austria +43 (0)676 557 4408 katherine.dolan(a)arche-noah.at<mailto:katherine.dolan@arche-noah.at> www.arche-noah.at<http://www.arche-noah.at/> [Kampagne_Saatgutrecht__fb-Cover_851x315_de]<https://mitmachen.arche-noah.at/de/hoch-die-gabeln/> Hoch die Gabeln - für die Vielfalt! - Hier Petition zum EU-Saatgutrecht unterschreiben<https://mitmachen.arche-noah.at/de/hoch-die-gabeln/>

1 0