Handout: Analysis of the EU Seed Marketing Reform from a Seed Diversity Perspective

Summary

The ongoing reform of EU seed marketing legislation (PRM reform) profoundly affects agricultural biodiversity. Advocacy groups like Arche Noah, as part of the Raise Our Fork campaign, seek to strengthen the role of locally-adapted crop varieties and the rights of farmers and small producers. The European Commission’s original proposal was largely restrictive, treating non-commercial seed sharing (e.g., by gene banks or hobby gardeners) similarly to for-profit marketing, imposing severe burdens and limiting the rights to use, exchange, and sell seeds. The European Parliament took significant steps towards supporting seed diversity by allowing freer sharing, reducing restrictive reporting obligations, and ensuring small producers can register rare varieties more easily. However, some limits remain, like setting maximum amounts for non-commercial seed exchanges. The Council of Ministers is expected to take a more restrictive stance, mainly supporting state-controlled distribution, which could threaten the diversity network’s many non-governmental players. On transparency, the Parliament introduced new requirements for information about breeding methods and intellectual property, but both Parliament and Commission fail to provide clear ways for third parties to appeal variety registrations. Overall, the final impact for seed diversity will depend on continued negotiations and advocacy as the Council shapes the legislation’s last details.