No. 1246 Plant Variety Protection and Seed Act Revised
The original act on plant variety protection and seed was revised with force at the end of the year 2020, which will be effective in coming April. The Seeds Law was abolished in 2018. These developments indicate there lie behind the competitions for profits by global enterprises and the neoliberal policy line pursued by the ruling bloc of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Komeito.
VERY ROOTS OF ORIGIN OF LIFE MUST BE PROTECTED RIGHTLY
Local governments counter with issuing ordinances
Abruptly repealed was the Major Crop Seeds Law; the law entitled local governments to supply the farming population with good quality seeds in low prices after the state government took responsibility for developments of seeds of the major crops – rice, barley and soy beans – as they are the very roots of life and living of Japanese people.
Along with this development, the Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Support Law was established. The objective is to facilitate seeds of rice and related information, which have been researched by public organizations, to be transferred to the private sectors.
Under these circumstances 28 prefectures across the country, responding to crisis-ridden voices of farmers and consumers, issued the ordinances on seeds, which replaces the former Seeds Law, so the public entities can continue R&D on seeds and seedlings. Other prefectural governments, too, keep receiving requests from the level of villages, towns and cities to compile similar ordinances on seeds.
Registration of plant varieties is out of public control
The revised Plant Variety Protection and Seed Act was set forth in order to prevent important Japanese-born seeds from flowing out of the border, as is in the case of Shine Muscat. This variety of grapes is developed in Japan, and is brought out of the country.
Growing Shine Muscat abroad was allowed due to the failure in registration of the species in the foreign countries, which is a great mistake. People may understand the act was amended so as to protect the ‘copyrights’ of the plant variety and seeds on the ground of strict registration.
However, the altered law has an objective to foster the right of developers of new plant varieties and seeds as well as seedlings to earn profit, and therefore there remains a concern to prohibit farmers to grow seeds on their own farms, which has been traditionally admitted. Thus, eventually global seed breeders will be given the monopoly right to control seeds and graft woods. That is a natural logic.
Gigantic business
A native species is a general species that farmers raise seeds at home. If a farmer grows, on the basis of natural species, a newly-developed species of the breeders, he/she will have to purchase seeds from the business entity. If a registration procedure is taken for a natural species, can be constituted violation against the right to grow, provided the characteristics table are proven. Thus, farmers will risk a damage compensation.
It takes time and energy to research and develop seeds, and therefore it is universal that public entities owe responsibilities. However, when an excellent seed, called the F1(First Filial Generation), is developed that can live for a single generation, the seed industry has become a giant business.
In addition, new techniques enter the industry, like genetic engineering and genome editing, accompanying pharmaceutical enterprises and chemical manufacturers. Situations have changed drastically. Those who control seeds can conquer the world, they say.
Seeds and seedlings are roots of living. They should not be made a prey of huge agribusinesses.
種子条例で対抗
日本人の｢いのち｣と暮らしの源である主要食糧(米麦、大豆など)の種子(タネ)開発は国が責任を持ち、都道府県が良質な種を農家に安く提供するのが「主要農作物種子法」だが、突然廃止された。
それに伴って制定されたのが｢農業競争力強化支援法｣であり、公的機関が開発してきたコメの種子とその関連情報を民間に提供することを促すものだ。
そうした状況に危機感をもった農業者・消費者の声を受けて28道県が種子法に代わる「種子条例」を制定し、種苗開発の継続に尽力している。それ以外の自治体でも、種子条例の制定を求める市町村からの請願運動が続いている。
品種登録を放置
改定「種苗法」は、国内で開発されたシャインマスカットなどが海外に持ち出されて栽培されたことから、日本の大切な種苗の海外流出を防ぐことを理由に制定された。
シャインマスカットの海外栽培には、海外での品種登録が放置されたという手痛いミスがあり、品種登録の徹底を前提に種苗の「著作権」を守るというのなら理解もされよう。
だが、改定種苗法は種苗開発者が利益を得る権利を強化することを目的としており、これまで認められてきた農業者の自家採種が禁止される懸念がある。そして、その延長線上には、グローバル種子企業に種苗の独占権を与えてしまう恐れがあるという当然の指摘がある。
巨大ビジネスに
在来種は自家採種できる「一般品種」だが、在来種を基に企業新品種を育成すれば農家も企業から種苗を買うしかなくなる。また、在来種でも登録されたら特性表の立証のみで育成権侵害の主張が可能となり、農家は損害賠償のリスクを負うことになる。
種子の研究開発には時間と人手がかかるため、公共体が行ってきたのは世界共通だ。しかし、Ｆ１と呼ばれる一代限りの優れた種子が生まれて、種子は巨大ビジネスとなった。
さらに遺伝子組み換え、ゲノム編集といった技術が現れ種苗業界に化学・医薬品企業が参入して状況が一変、種を制する者は世界を制するまでになった。命と暮らしの源である種苗を、巨大アグリビジネスの餌食にさせてはならないのだ。
英訳版↓
No. 1246 Plant Variety Protection and Seed Act Revised
The original act on plant variety protection and seed was revised with force at the end of the year 2020, which will be effective in coming April. The Seeds Law was abolished in 2018. These developments indicate there lie behind the competitions for profits by global enterprises and the neoliberal policy line pursued by the ruling bloc of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Komeito.
VERY ROOTS OF ORIGIN OF LIFE MUST BE PROTECTED RIGHTLY
Local governments counter with issuing ordinances
Abruptly repealed was the Major Crop Seeds Law; the law entitled local governments to supply the farming population with good quality seeds in low prices after the state government took responsibility for developments of seeds of the major crops – rice, barley and soy beans – as they are the very roots of life and living of Japanese people.
Along with this development, the Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Support Law was established. The objective is to facilitate seeds of rice and related information, which have been researched by public organizations, to be transferred to the private sectors.
Under these circumstances 28 prefectures across the country, responding to crisis-ridden voices of farmers and consumers, issued the ordinances on seeds, which replaces the former Seeds Law, so the public entities can continue R&D on seeds and seedlings. Other prefectural governments, too, keep receiving requests from the level of villages, towns and cities to compile similar ordinances on seeds.
Registration of plant varieties is out of public control
The revised Plant Variety Protection and Seed Act was set forth in order to prevent important Japanese-born seeds from flowing out of the border, as is in the case of Shine Muscat. This variety of grapes is developed in Japan, and is brought out of the country.
Growing Shine Muscat abroad was allowed due to the failure in registration of the species in the foreign countries, which is a great mistake. People may understand the act was amended so as to protect the ‘copyrights’ of the plant variety and seeds on the ground of strict registration.
However, the altered law has an objective to foster the right of developers of new plant varieties and seeds as well as seedlings to earn profit, and therefore there remains a concern to prohibit farmers to grow seeds on their own farms, which has been traditionally admitted. Thus, eventually global seed breeders will be given the monopoly right to control seeds and graft woods. That is a natural logic.
Gigantic business
A native species is a general species that farmers raise seeds at home. If a farmer grows, on the basis of natural species, a newly-developed species of the breeders, he/she will have to purchase seeds from the business entity. If a registration procedure is taken for a natural species, can be constituted violation against the right to grow, provided the characteristics table are proven. Thus, farmers will risk a damage compensation.
It takes time and energy to research and develop seeds, and therefore it is universal that public entities owe responsibilities. However, when an excellent seed, called the F1(First Filial Generation), is developed that can live for a single generation, the seed industry has become a giant business.
In addition, new techniques enter the industry, like genetic engineering and genome editing, accompanying pharmaceutical enterprises and chemical manufacturers. Situations have changed drastically. Those who control seeds can conquer the world, they say.
Seeds and seedlings are roots of living. They should not be made a prey of huge agribusinesses.
February 16, 2022