Amendment of the Seed and Seedling Act "Discussion in the current Diet as scheduled" Agriculture Minister Eto May 14:41
Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that there are some calls for careful deliberation because there is a risk that the burden on farmers may increase in response to the revision of the seed and seedling law, which regulates the unauthorized removal of fruit seedlings overseas. "There is no time for a system that protects farmers' rights," he said, calling for discussion at the current Diet as planned.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is planning to revise the seed and seedling law for newly developed seeds and seedlings of fruits and vegetables in Japan to prevent their outflow.
According to the amendment, when farmers increase the number of varieties registered by the government in their own fields etc., permission from the developer is required. There is a demand for it.
Regarding this, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Eto said in a press conference on the 19th, "Only licensed varieties need to be licensed, for example, 84% of rice varieties and 98% of mandarin varieties are general varieties without restrictions. It is not expected that farmers will be burdened or production will be limited. "
On top of that, Minister Eto said, "There are criticisms that it is an unnecessary and urgent bill, but there is no time for a system that protects rights. Without stopping the outflow to overseas, farmers' efforts and profits cannot be protected, I would like the deliberation to take place at the Diet. "