I've just received this from our Allotment Association.
"It would seem that the The EU is passing a LAW that will criminalize those who want to save and share seed!"
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/We_Wil ... y/?cCgoWbb
http://www.realseeds.co.uk/seedlaw.html
Petition
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter, Chief Spud
-
vegpatchmum
- KG Regular
- Posts: 469
- Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:49 pm
- Location: North Lincolnshire
Just signed two petitions. Ruddy bureaucrats need shooting. Someone in a nice comfortable office somewhere who has probably never grown anything from seed in their life, has obviously written this law.
When will these people learn that by restricting the varieties to a handful of specially produced and approved types, can only serve to weaken the overall gene pool. You can not have a 'one size fits all' approach to seeds and continue to have a sustainable food production industry. Seeds that do well in our neck of the woods, will not necessarily fair so well down South or even further North. That's where the whole of our food growing industry is now going wrong. If they want to regulate the farming industry, then fine but leave the home grower along, to develop seed as best they can, producing generations suitable for their particular garden, soil and local climate.
In my opinion, seed production is just a variation of live stock breeding and no farmer worth his salt would put a female of any species, back to it's own sire etc
Mother Nature kind of knows what she is doing - will we ever learn not to tamper.
VPM
x
When will these people learn that by restricting the varieties to a handful of specially produced and approved types, can only serve to weaken the overall gene pool. You can not have a 'one size fits all' approach to seeds and continue to have a sustainable food production industry. Seeds that do well in our neck of the woods, will not necessarily fair so well down South or even further North. That's where the whole of our food growing industry is now going wrong. If they want to regulate the farming industry, then fine but leave the home grower along, to develop seed as best they can, producing generations suitable for their particular garden, soil and local climate.
In my opinion, seed production is just a variation of live stock breeding and no farmer worth his salt would put a female of any species, back to it's own sire etc
Mother Nature kind of knows what she is doing - will we ever learn not to tamper.
VPM
x
-
alan refail
- KG Regular
- Posts: 7254
- Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 7:00 am
- Location: Chwilog Gogledd Orllewin Cymru Northwest Wales
- Been thanked: 7 times
Before getting in a tizz, probably wise to read the entire draft proposals http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer ... php_en.pdf. It's a long read, but I don't see the basis for the alarmist "It would seem that the The EU is passing a LAW that will criminalize those who want to save and share seed!"
I may be wrong.
I may be wrong.
Cred air o bob deg a glywi, a thi a gei rywfaint bach o wir (hen ddihareb Gymraeg)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
-
robo
- KG Regular
- Posts: 2824
- Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2012 10:22 pm
- Location: st.helens
- Has thanked: 9 times
- Been thanked: 64 times
my wife picked up a plant in a pot last week I think it was in b&q it had a note pinned on it saying that it was illegal to take cuttings off the plant and reproduce it as the colour was patented makes me wonder what this world is coming to
-
alan refail
- KG Regular
- Posts: 7254
- Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 7:00 am
- Location: Chwilog Gogledd Orllewin Cymru Northwest Wales
- Been thanked: 7 times
robo - This refers to plant breeders' rights, a bit like copyright on a book.
http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/pla ... ersRights/
I doubt whether you would have any problems taking cuttings for yourself, provided you didn't set up a stall selling them.
http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/pla ... ersRights/
I doubt whether you would have any problems taking cuttings for yourself, provided you didn't set up a stall selling them.
Cred air o bob deg a glywi, a thi a gei rywfaint bach o wir (hen ddihareb Gymraeg)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
-
Motherwoman
- KG Regular
- Posts: 1000
- Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2009 6:03 am
- Location: Isle of Wight
The little Brussels seed spy will have to catch me first...
French take no notice of all these regs, about time we did the same. All together now.. gallic shrug!
French take no notice of all these regs, about time we did the same. All together now.. gallic shrug!
-
vegpatchmum
- KG Regular
- Posts: 469
- Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:49 pm
- Location: North Lincolnshire
Plant Breeders Rights is all well and good but my understanding of the seed currently available to home growers from the likes of the local garden center, is that it is mostly F1 hybrids and, as such, not likely to produce viable seed anyway, so there would be no point in trying to save it. So the proposed legislation is of no benefit to home growers who don't want the manufactured seeds but prefer to keep their own from each passing year. It is, in fact, likely to be harmful to the home grower as it, potentially restricts their right to grow more naturally produced seed.
At least that's how I see it.
VPM
x
At least that's how I see it.
VPM
x
-
Motherwoman
- KG Regular
- Posts: 1000
- Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2009 6:03 am
- Location: Isle of Wight
Hi VPM,
I do have a selection of old seed varieties which I save from year to year and pass around to others, particularly french climbing beans, they are varieties which cannot be bought and I've sorted out varieties over the years which suit my conditions. One size does not suit all as Europe seems to think. It would be a great shame if we lost these varieties, who knows when we might need their characteristics.
Other half and I sometimes talk about 'what if' the whole social/economic system broke down, could we as a family survive? We've come to the conclusion that we could have a fair stab at it, hunting, gathering and growing. It's an interesting exercise.
MW
I do have a selection of old seed varieties which I save from year to year and pass around to others, particularly french climbing beans, they are varieties which cannot be bought and I've sorted out varieties over the years which suit my conditions. One size does not suit all as Europe seems to think. It would be a great shame if we lost these varieties, who knows when we might need their characteristics.
Other half and I sometimes talk about 'what if' the whole social/economic system broke down, could we as a family survive? We've come to the conclusion that we could have a fair stab at it, hunting, gathering and growing. It's an interesting exercise.
MW
Last edited by Motherwoman on Thu May 16, 2013 6:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
oldherbaceous
- KG Regular
- Posts: 14433
- Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:52 pm
- Location: Beautiful Bedfordshire
- Has thanked: 711 times
- Been thanked: 710 times
I would quite fancy going right back to basics, anyone care to join me? 
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
-
Motherwoman
- KG Regular
- Posts: 1000
- Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2009 6:03 am
- Location: Isle of Wight
Is that an offer I can't refuse OH?
'Tis tempting though. If all we had to think about was food and shelter and just living it would be a huge change and probably not as nice as we'd like to imagine. I remember when they had a spate of TV progs on taking people back to the iron age living conditions etc and mostly they made a sad mess of things.
'Tis tempting though. If all we had to think about was food and shelter and just living it would be a huge change and probably not as nice as we'd like to imagine. I remember when they had a spate of TV progs on taking people back to the iron age living conditions etc and mostly they made a sad mess of things.
-
vegpatchmum
- KG Regular
- Posts: 469
- Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:49 pm
- Location: North Lincolnshire
Motherwoman wrote:The little Brussels seed spy will have to catch me first...
French take no notice of all these regs, about time we did the same. All together now.. gallic shrug!
Lol! No member state ever takes a blind bit of notice of the EU legislation, other than the UK that is!!! So in effect, EU legislation equals UK legislation.
VPM
x