[Ivor Backache]

Has anyone actually read this EU proposal? I have had a quick look (1 Hour) and can find nothing wrong with it.
  Firstly its a consolidation document of 12 previous directives viz fodder, cereal, agricultural plant species, beet, vegetable seed marketing, seed potato, oil/fibre plants, propagation of vine, ornamental plants, marketing of material not seed, fruit plant and forest plants.
  There is  some tidying up of the law which is aimed at people who have a commercial interest. Cannot find anything on' heritage'
  We are so lucky in this country. Most of the pioneering work was done here, we have Kew Gardens. We have several well established seed producers. We have garden centres that guarantee quality. I doubt if that is the case throughout Europe.
  Have a look at what our Government are saying:  https://www.gov.uk/the-marketing-of-agricultural-and-vegetable-seed-varieties
  Can someone explain to me how the EU are trying to ban heritage seeds? I am not sure that I want to grow them, when we can have brassicas resistant to club root and potatoes resistant to blight.
  There we are: I have had my say.

[hightide]

Democracy at work here, it is a draft consultation on harmonising and upgrading 12 existing directives. At this time it has been sent to all members setting out the proposals and soliciting their positions, there is a long way to go before it is ratified – if ever in this format.
In the scope of the directive it states;
This Regulation shall not apply to plant reproductive material:
(a) intended solely for testing or scientific purposes;
(b) intended solely for selection purposes; or
(c) intended solely for, and maintained in, gene banks and networks of conservation of genetic resources associated with gene banks;
(d) exchanged in kind between persons other than operators
and;
Concerning old varieties, such as conservation varieties (landraces, populations) or amateur varieties, less stringent requirements will be laid down. The varieties will continue to be registered, however, on the basis of an 'officially recognised description' which shall be recognised– but not produced – by the competent authorities. For that description no DUS testing is obligatory.

I do wonder what the lobbyists are up to, it clearly states that it will not apply to a private exchange, it also states that for old varieties no type testing is necessary.
It does state that varieties not listed will still have to be registered by operators such as 'Real Seeds' should they want to sell them throughout the EU.
I can't see anywhere exclusion of heritage Plant Reproductive Material (Seeds).

Sometimes good legislation is negated by a lackadaisical approach, if the regulations had been enforced more stringently we might not be experiencing oak, sweet chestnut, plane and ash tree problems

[grendel]

maybe the concern of 'real seeds' is to do with the registration of the seeds - if for example there is a charge for each registration they could find that they are facing a great expense to register all of the unusual varieties of seed (which could be almost their entire stock in trade) such a cost may well be enough to put a small company out of business.
Grendel

[mumofstig]

I think Real Seeds explains it well enough on their site -
http://www.realseeds.co.uk/terms.html

the new directives would just toughen the EU's stance on seed clubs
Kokopelli, the French seed saving club, was taken to court and lost last year 
IMO It is worrying

http://www.reclaimthefields.org.uk/2012/08/02/european-court-of-justice-confirms-sales-hurdles-for-plant-biodiversity/
 

[Madame Cholet]

I've sent my email, thanks making me aware of the situation.

[surbie100]

There is also a petition, albeit in German, here: http://helfen.global2000.at/de/node/19

The name of the petition is:
Gefahr für Saatgut durch neue Gesetze (threats to seed through new laws)

The petition is on the Arche Noah website (the site that Real Seeds refers to):
Fill in the boxes:

- Christian name
- Surname
- Email address
then click the small box to say you accept data protection conditions and finally, click the blue bar 'Jetzt unterstuetzen!' (which means ' support this cause now')

They are aiming for 120,000 signatures.

[mumofstig]

I've done that as well!

[Aunt Sally]

I've done that too.

Thanks for the translation surbie

[Ema]

Disgusting (wanna buy some illegal seeds grew them myself )

[Eblana]

There is also a petition, albeit in German, here: http://helfen.global2000.at/de/node/19

Thanks Surbie,

Have done that.

[surbie100]

Has anyone contacted the Heritage Seed Library?

[New shoot]

Just sent an email and done the petition for good measure 

[hightide]

maybe the concern of 'real seeds' is to do with the registration of the seeds - if for example there is a charge for each registration they could find that they are facing a great expense to register all of the unusual varieties of seed (which could be almost their entire stock in trade) such a cost may well be enough to put a small company out of business.
Grendel

Do you know I am still not completely convinced, I did a random snapshot on the real seeds products, the cursor stopped on leeks. All of the varieties offered are registered in the EU plant directory so I don't see where the cost of registering in this case comes into it.
I know that this was only one plant type and I did not go any further, I know there is a cost to registering and maintaining a variety. I just think if they are selling the stuff and find out it is unregistered they should be lobbying FERA to ensure the product is registered on one of the available lists.

[surbie100]

I've been emailing RealSeeds, and this is the reply I have:

'Oh definitely not a storm in a teacup! There's been a huge outcry on the continent, and now German and Austrian governments have now come out against it.

It has been discussed already at ministerial level in the UK, DEFRA knows about it, and there is now an official complaint lodged against the lobbyist who has written much of the legislation. So it is most definitely worth making a fuss.

Ben

On 25 Apr 2013:

> Thanks. There does seem to be some cynicism about whether it's actually worth protesting against. And wondering whether, as it's got no press coverage or response from the Heritage Seed Library et al, that it's just a storm in a teacup.

thought it might be useful to know.

[devonbarmygardener]

I signed the petition too.

I just don't agree with the EU changing things that work fine as they are - it must be going to make them money or they wouldn't bother.