VBN/FloraHolland: Restricting patents in horticultural sector only possible in Brussels

The Vereniging van Bloemenveilingen in Nederland (VBN; Association of Flower Auctions in The Netherlands) is delighted that Blooming Breeders is also joining the lobby that the horticultural lobby organisation, together with Plantum, has been supporting to restore the balance between growers' rights and patent law.

"The national politicians fully support the plan to revise the Bio-patent guidelines," according to Eveline Herben, VBN lobbyist. "The lobby is now concentrating on Brussels and on parliaments in other member states." State Secretary Dijksma is putting the topic on the political agenda at the start of 2016, when the Netherlands again assumes the rotating chair of the European Union.

In the crop breeding sector, this topic has been an issue for much longer, and the VBN recognises that this change will have major consequences for the horticultural breeding sector.

Speech against patent law in the horticultural sector
Aad Van der Knaap, general director of KP Holland, gave a speech against patent law in the horticultural sector during the 'Horticultural sector is growing and changing' congress of Blooming The Future on 24 September 2015. He stated that the sector must join forces to make its voice heard.

Lobby of the politicians
"Since 2010 we and the Dutch sector organisations have jointly supported the lobby of the politicians," replied Eveline. "We are working together with agricultural and horticultural organisations from other member states and with European horticultural umbrella organisations. With all this collaboration, we were able to get Brussels to move and change."

source: FloraHolland