|
May 12, 2004
Source:
USDA/FAS Attache Report
The Protection of Plant Varieties
and Farmers’ Right Act, 2001, is scheduled to be enforced the
middle of this year.
According to Andhra Pradesh Seed
Industry Association President Venkat Reddy, the new Act will
provide the establishment of an effective system for protection
of plant varieties with a registrar who will keep a record of
the definition of particular derived variety in terms of its
essential characteristics.
Under the Act, the is entitled to
save, sow, re-sow, exchange, and sell his farm seed but is not
entitled to branded seed of a variety protected under the Act.
However, the Geneva-based
International Union for Protection
of New Varieties of Plants, the nodal referee for settling
disputes nations among patent-related issues in seeds, feels
that excessive rights have been given farmers, which goes
against its guidelines.
(Source:
Financial
Express, May 4, 2004) |
