We’ve written a letter to our London MEP, Marina Yannakoudakis concerning the EU Seed Bill. If you support this, please add you name in the comments.
We think this is important. So please share and we encourage you to also write a letter. For more information, please visit the campaign on the Soil Association or the Real Seed Catalogue.
UPDATE 4 Dec 2013: We had a response from Marina Yannakoudakis which we have posted below.
———
Dear Marina Yannakoudakis MEP,
I am writing to you on behalf of the members at Sutton Community Farm, a not for profit social enterprise and London’s largest community Farm.
We are writing to ask you to push for improvements to the new set of laws controlling the sale and supply of seeds. We believe the law is anti-competitive and will drive small and medium sized seed suppliers out of the market. At present 53% of the global seed market is controlled by three companies, and we believe this legislation will only serve to increase their share.
Additionally, one of the objectives of the legislation is to increase biodiversity, however we believe this strict legislation will have the opposite effect — by diminishing seed supply and concentrating the market to fewer suppliers.
At our farm we grow over 150 vegetable varieties and would like the freedom and flexibility to supply our community with vegetables grown from seeds which are suited to the local climate, from a range of small suppliers that meet our sustainability standards.
There are three specific amendments to the legislation we would like to see:
- Exemption from the proposed law for gardeners; those in amenity horticulture; small commercial growers; those in wildlife conservation; small holders and allotment growers.
- Exemption for living seed banks as well as statutory seed banks. Seed banks like the Heritage Seed Library need to be able to allow heritage plant varieties to adapt to changes in climate and disease over time.
- Exemption for the registration of open pollinated varieties as they are a niche market variety but not all varieties will be covered by the niche market definition. The exemption for open pollinated varieties would enhance biodiversity and food security. The current proposal for exemptions is for varieties of limited commercial value that are of ‘local’ interest. Although this is not clearly defined, the scope appears to be too narrow to benefit most small seed producers.
Yours sincerely
Samuel Smith
on behalf of the community at Sutton Community Farm. Please find signatories below.
Cllr Kirsty Jerome, Kevin Hobbs, Gavin McGregor, Laura Jean Sargant, Joris Gunawardena, Charlotte Steel, Oliver Lister, Anna Pompilio, Daniel Flach, Michael Condie.
———
Dear Mr. Smith,
Thank you for your email and that of members of Sutton Community Farm regarding the Plant Reproductive Material Proposal.
On your behalf I have contacted Ms. Julie Girling MEP, who is the Conservative Shadow Rapporteur on this file in the European Parliament. Ms. Girling informs me that she will be working with Mr. Silvestris, and also DEFRA in the run up to the amendment deadline, which has been set for the 4th December. Ms. Girling also informs me that she will bear your comments mind when she comes to amend the draft proposal.
As your London MEP I would be happy to receive further comments and suggestions on this legislative issue as it moves through the European Parliament. I have offices in London and in Brussels, and if there is anything else you would like to bring to my attention please do not hesitate to get in touch. I am here to work on your behalf and would be delighted to hear from you.
Yours sincerely,
Marina Yannakoudakis, Conservative MEP for London