Press releases

UPOV’s Symposium on Interrelations between ITPGRFA & UPOV, Inadequate to Implement “Farmers Rights” Resolutions

Bonn/Geneva -

The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), in its meetings of 17th March, agreed to hold a joint symposium on 26th October with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (“ITPGRFA”) on the interrelations between the ITPGRFA and the UPOV Conventions.

“APBREBES is concerned that this decision backtracks and contradicts the process outlined by the Secretariat of the ITPGRFA in its Notification GB6-028 and is completely inadequate to implement the Resolutions of its Governing Body. There is a risk that the long needed comprehensive analysis of the possible contradictions between the ITPGRFA and UPOV Conventions will never be accomplished”, said Susanne Gura from APBREBES.

A New Tool for Developing Plant Variety Protection that Upholds Farmers' Rights

Bonn -
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A new tool to assist developing countries in designing a “custom made” plant variety protection legislation suitable for the seed and agricultural systems that prevail in developing countries has been published by an international group of NGOs.

The ground breaking “Plant Variety Protection in Developing Countries: A Tool for Designing a Sui Generis Plant Variety Protection System: An Alternative to UPOV 1991” is authored by intellectual property expert Professor Carlos Correa with contributions from Sangeeta Shashikant and François Meienberg.

UPOV breaking its own rules to tie-in African countries

Geneva -

Today the UPOV Council confirmed that the Draft ARIPO Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants is in conformity with the 1991 Act of the UPOV Convention allowing ARIPO Members that ratify the Protocol to become a party to the UPOV Convention. According to a legal opinion written by Prof. Thomas Cottier from the World Trade Institute the decision taken is not in line with the 1991 Act of UPOV.

UPOV creates barriers to farmers’ participation

Geneva -

Today, the UPOV Council adopted new rules for granting of observers status to its sessions. These amendments are aimed at restricting the participation of NGOs and farmer communities in UPOV meetings.

50 years of UPOV – Time to Change

Geneva -

This week the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) celebrates its 50th anniversary behind closed doors. UPOV has in its first 50 years, especially through its 1991 Convention strengthened breeders’ rights and supported the interest of the seed industry at the expense of farmers’ rights and the interests and needs of developing countries putting the right to food at risk. - To play a role in sustainable development and food security the organisation needs a dramatic change.

UPOV entering a new era of transparency & inclusiveness

Geneva -

The decision of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) to grant observer status to civil society and farmers’ organizations at its annual ordinary session on October 21, 2010 suggest the possibility of a new era of transparency and inclusiveness in UPOV’s discussions.

UPOV to decide on farmers’ and civil society participation in its sessions

Geneva -

by European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC) & Association for Plant Breeding for the Benefit of Society (APBREBES)
The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) will decide next week if it will open its doors to farmers and civil society organizations that work in the interest of peasants, small and medium scale farmers and the broader public.

L’UPOV refuse la participation des organisations paysannes et de la societe civile

Genève -

Par Coordination Paysanne Européenne - CPE (maintenant European Coordination Via Campesina - ECVC), Development Fund, LI-Bird, Déclaration de Berne, Searice, Third World Network en Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).
Le 21 octobre 2009, le Conseil de l'Union pour la Protection des Obtentions Végétales (UPOV) a rejeté la demande d'accréditation de l’association « Association of Plant Breeding for the Benefit of Society » (APREBES ) et ECVC (précédemment CPE).

UPOV DENIES PARTICIPATION TO FARMERS’ AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS

Geneva -

By Coordination Paysanne Européenne - CPE (now known as European Coordination Via Campesina - ECVC), Development Fund, LI-Bird, Berne Declaration, Searice, Third World Network and Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
On 21st October 2009, the Consultative Committee of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) rejected the application by the Association of Plant Breeding for the Benefit of Society (APBREBES) and the European Coordination Via Campesina (then known as CPE) for observer status in UPOV Bodies.