Another EU threat to seed biodiversity

[veggiechicken]

I'm saying nothing!!
Now here's a potential loophole in this crazy proposal........... you can't swap seeds but can you swap plants? At what point does a seed become a plant? Can you sell/swap plants grown from unregistered seed?

[SarzWix]

I'm pretty sure swapping will be okay. If it ends up affecting Real Seeds, hopefully they'll get round it by becoming a different sort of club or something. If enough people are determined to keep growing OP varieties, our collective brains will find a way. Although a NO vote to this, and a rewritten one with some clarity and some leeway for home/small-scale growers would be the best outcome...

[binley100]

Also we should start a secret society where we swap seeds underground. Two taps with a trowel gets you in. Start stashing and buying up your favourite varieties folks! Instead of an apron it'll be dirty hands and the handshake could be two fingered salute to the EU

I'll give 'em one ....they're not worth two ......
So, about next years seed circles...........

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

I have contacted 38 Degrees, might be too late for them to do a campaign on this, but it could be done on here as well?

[SarzWix]

Pretty sure that Avaaz have a petition on this, they are affiliated with 38 Degrees.

[Dusty Rhodes]

As Guardian of the VSP will I be a criminal

Don't fret VC...Go to your observation post at the top of your hill and you should be able to hold off the seed police with your trusty Enfield until the seed underground rescues you.

[Paulieb]

Now I've signed a couple of petitions and emailed a comissioner as I agree that this is a rediculous proposed law, and also can't see the real benefits (apart from seed company profits).

However in reality to the personal homegrower are people reallycgoing to be prosecuted for swapping a pack of tomato seeds with the couple next door....probably not. But I do seed that its not good for the heirloom seed merchants like realseeds.

I would suggest however that a club be set up that we can all be members of where we all actively swap seeds in the name of 'research' to test how different seed grows in different parts of the country with a 'view' to registering that seed. Who's to say how long initial testing should last and how many people can partake in that testing!

[Dynamo]

Signed and shared and signed.

This kind of thing infuriates me on another level, too - I'm pro Europe but this will make waverers anti, reasonably enough.

I'm pro euro too. A lot of good comes out of Brussels, but they always shoot themselves in the foot with stupid legislations like this at the same time. Petition signed.

[veggiechicken]

There's another Avaaz petition that you may want to add your name to..........We Will Not Comply

[Thelma Sanders]

Bumping this petition again!

I've signed! and also the German petition, here
Freiheit für die Vielfalt! | Global 2000 Action Center

The name of the petition is:
Gefahr für Saatgut durch neue Gesetze (threat to seed by new laws)
It's easy to fill in the boxes:

- Christian name
- Surname
- Email address

then click the small box to say you accept data protection conditions

then click the blue bar 'Jetzt unterstuetzen!' ( support this cause now! )

[redser]

Apologies if this link has been given already, I didn't read through the whole Thread. This is a quick and easy petition to sign online ...
Press comment: Proposed EU regulation concerning seed varieties

[veggiechicken]

There has been some progress on this - see GO press notice:-
Triumph and trepidation as Garden Organic gives cautious welcome to new draft EU seed directive - News story from Garden organic

[GardenNinja]

I just read the new proposed regulation (6th May 2013) and it appears to have no effect on gardeners. Although it does affect small vendors, the requirements have to do with record keeping rather than a complete ban on the selling of unregistered seeds/plants.

Gardeners: excluded under Article 2(d):
'This Regulation shall not apply to plant reproductive material: (d) exchanged in kind between persons other than professional operators.'


Small Seed Vendors: Derogation from registration requirement under Article 36: The registration requirement in Article 14 will not apply if the vendor employs no more than ten people OR turnover/balance sheet is not over 2 million Euros (Article 36(1a)). However, they have to put a 'niche market material' label on their packets (Article 36(1b)) and keep a record of the amount and type produced which may be available for inspection. The EC will be setting out the maximum size of these seed packets and the labeling requirements under Article 140.

[Thelma Sanders]

EVEN MORE INFO from Realseeds at the bottom of their page
New EU Law to ban traditional vegetable varieties

[RedThorn]

And we want to be part of the eu.... Why???