Dear all,
Today the Austrian Ministry started a four week public consultationhttps://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/VHG/XXVII/ME/ME_00229/index.shtml on changes to the Austrian patent law.
The draft texts includes our demands on the patentability of seeds (see also attachment, but only in DE):
· Extending the definition of essentially biological processes (EBP) to include "non-targeted mutagenesis and random genetic variations occurring in nature" as well as crossing and selection
· Extending the definition of plants and animals to include the cells of plants and animals
· Providing that plant patents don't apply to plants with the same specified trait if they result from EBP and the patented material was not used in the breeding process
As you see, the draft effectively seeks to implement the demands of NPOS at the national level. While this will have very little direct impact, we hope it will give new momentum and urgency to the debate at European level, as it cements the Austrian position in law and means there is a "best practice" example that can be followed.
The conservative party and industry are still sceptical, however. So it is not yet sure whether the draft will actually make it to parliament. The consultation runs until 21st November and negotiations within the coalition will take place again after that.
Best, Katherine
Katherine Dolan Team Saatgutpolitik / Seed Policy
ARCHE NOAH Gesellschaft für die Erhaltung der Kulturpflanzenvielfalt und ihre Entwicklung Obere Straße 40, A-3553 Schiltern +43 (0)676 557 4408 katherine.dolan@arche-noah.at www.arche-noah.athttp://www.arche-noah.at ZVR 907994719