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Bad-Seed-Law

(12 Posts)
Notso Fri 26-Apr-13 08:49:05

A new law is being proposed to ban the sale or free swapping of seed unless it is an approved EU variety.

If you care about seeds and the freedom to use, exchange & sell them please vote NO.

If you care about rare plants and biodiversity, please vote NO.

Read more and vote NO on this link:

open-seeds.org/bad-seed-law/

Please share on Facebook & Twitter...Thank you.

whenim64 Fri 26-Apr-13 09:03:26

I've signed the Avaaz petition, but can't get it to paste on here for some reason.

annodomini Fri 26-Apr-13 09:05:51

There's also an avaaz petition

grannyactivist Fri 26-Apr-13 09:06:12

www.avaaz.org/en/petition/We_dont_accept_this_Let_us_keep_our_seeds_EU/?pv=0

grannyactivist Fri 26-Apr-13 09:06:31

oops! grin

Greatnan Fri 26-Apr-13 09:11:25

The seed growers are very aggressive in protecting their profits - my daughter in NZ can't get some seeds to germinate because the growers have made sure they are infertile, so she has to buy seedlings from them.
Don't you just love big business?

Elegran Fri 26-Apr-13 09:18:52

As well as the reduction in biodiversity which could result from this, there have been allegations of a conflict of interest at the heart of the plans:
(I have condensed this, but it can be found here )"Madame Isabelle Clément-Nissou, sent by the French Government to DG SANCO, is now a ‘Policy Officer on Seed and Reproductive Material’ working to support the drafting of future legislation on the Marketing of Seed and Plant Propagating Material.

She was actually sent on behalf of GNIS (Groupement National Interprofessionnel des Semences) Despite its public role, this is a privately funded lobby group run by and staunchly defending the interests of the seed industry. The fact that this organisation has been entrusted to a public service does not make it a “national, regional or local public administration or an IGO”.

The fact that France has largely given away the direction of its seed policy to industry is problematic, but this situation should not be allowed to negatively influence the drafting of EU legislation."

Faye Fri 26-Apr-13 10:03:43

Bit by bit they are taking away people's rights.

gracesmum Fri 26-Apr-13 10:38:22

Gosh I read the title and thought we were talking Eugenics!
Yet another example of Big Brother?
BTW love the title ‘Policy Officer on Seed and Reproductive Material’ sounds vaguely naughty!

Elegran Fri 26-Apr-13 10:48:10

Eugenics will probably be next on the EU agenda. No breeding without a cerificate, only issued to those on an approved list. (to be added to the list, apply in triplicate, enclosing a blank cheque, or a Direct Debit mandate)

Notso Fri 26-Apr-13 11:53:49

Elegran grin

Elegran Fri 26-Apr-13 12:36:35

gm Trust the French.