TRADE AND MARKE T ING European potato breeders miss out on 30 million euros every year The European breeders of protected varieties miss out on 30 million euros of royalties every year, as came out during the Europatat Conference in Angers (France). Laying down proprietary rights and their protection is therefore an important issue for the seed potato sector. Without income from royalties, breeders cannot invest in finding even better varieties. SlovaKia, the Czech Republic and Scandinavia have proper royalty payment systems in place. On average, growers pay 50 percent of the original royalties for their FSS seed. The amount that breeders can get with FSS royalties is quite considerable. It is estimated that they miss out on 30 million euros of royalties on an annual basis. This is not unusual if one considers that countries like Poland and Lithuania use 93 and 96 percent, respectively, of uncertified seed. The average percentage of uncertified seed in EU member states is 62. Momenteel zijn 598 namen en rassen in de aardappelen beschermd, vertelt CPVO directeur Bart Kiewiet. T he protection of breeders’ rights is a priority for Europatat and the European Seed Association (ESA). Bert Scholte, ESA’s technical director, considers this protection the mission of his organisation for the protection of Dutch breeders, he told us during the Europatat Conference in Angers. A special focal point is the so-called Farm Saved Seed (FSS), which is seed that growers multiply from consumption potatoes and use for their own cultivation. In practice, growers need not pay royalties for FSS unless the payment of royalties has been provided for in the national member state. Before the invoice can be sent to the grower, the breeding sector must have details about the amount of FSS the grower is using. This transfer of information is the difficulty. ‘It is therefore important that this is given a statutory underpinning.’ A few countries already have an FSS payment regulation. But it does not work in Belgium and Germany. The Baltic states started a royalty payment regulation not long ago. It is still too early to give an opinion about its functioning. Poland has just introduced legislation and Hungary will start as from 2010. Scholte thinks that only the Netherlands, Great Britain, CPVO name list Before being able to exercise his right to a particular potato variety in the EU, a breeder must register his new variety with the CPVO (Community Plant Variety Office) in Angers. This organisation is responsible for the registration of varieties in the entire EU. The CPVO is an independent organisation from the perspective of the European Commission and the EU member states. The organisation is financed by the Commission, which is paid by the breeders for the registration of their varieties. Breeders can obtain breeders’ rights for a period of 30 years in all 27EU Member states by registering a variety with the CPVO. This is an improvement and a saving in costs as compared with the old days. When the EU still consisted of fifteen countries, breeders had to apply for breeders’ right in every single country. This does not alter the fact that the possibility exists in 23 EU countries to apply for plant breeders’ rights at a national level. If only a limited number of countries have the right conditions to cultivate a particular plant variety, it might be cheaper for a breeder to apply for plant breeders’ rights only in those counA conference is organised annually by one of the members of the European sector organisation for the potato trade. This year, it was the turn of the French potato organisation Fedepom. It took place in the West French town of Angers from 27 to 30 May. More than a hundred representatives attended the conference, among whom a number of companies. The annual members’ meeting of Europatat took place at the same time. Potato World 2009 • number 3 5 Pagina 4
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