[Placing on the market, breeders rights and growing genetically modified (GM) varieties]

Rgulations on seeds and varieties established 80 years ago proved to be to be efficient for European agriculture. Genetic progress for many traits, such as yield resistance to pests and diseases, have been observed for all cultivated crops. Plant variety protection by the UPOV (Union Internationale pour la Protetion Végétable) sytem came into being with the adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants by a diplomatic conference in Paris on December 2, 1961. At this point the rights of plant breeders were recognized on an international basis. The UPOV Convention provides a sui generis form of intellectual property protection which has been specifically adapted for the process of plant breeding and has been developed with the aim of encouraging breeders to develop new varieties of plants. In contrast, the European GM regulation is very difficult to apply, very expensive and limits the development of biotechnology in Europe, as well for research as for development.