Agriculture bodies attack new seed regulations

Seven agricultural trade-related associations have criticised Agriculture Ministry regulations that will force companies, researchers and farmers to transfer ownership rights of new seeds to the government.

The details of the regulations, which will implement the 1999 Plant Variety Protection Act, are still being worked out.

The regulations, announced on January 21 this year, would mean that any newly developed plant seeds would be categorised as general seeds and would become a government asset.

The researcher or developer would not have the rights to own the new breed.

The rules would discourage research and development into plant seeds, the associations say.

The groups are the Thai Seed Trade Association (TSTA), the Horticultural Association Society of Thailand, the Plant Breeding and Crop Multiplication Association of Thailand, the Thai Orchid Exporters Association, the Royal Horticultural Society, the Thai Society of Sugar Cane Technologists and the Thai Agro Business Association.

TSTA president Pachoke Pongpanich said the government urgently needed to amend the 1999 Plant Variety Protection Act to reflect changes in the economic environment. Otherwise the law would reduce research and development and force investors to leave Thailand, as they would not have the rights to new seeds they developed, he said.

The Plant Variety Protection Act has never been enforced due to a lack of Agriculture Ministry regulations to support it.

The latest draft of the regulations has generated deep concern among traders, farmers, academics and researchers.

Under the regulations, any researchers or organisations that developed new plant seeds would have to allow the government to own the intellectual property rights and share any benefits. Violators would be subject to two years in prison and/or a Bt400, 000 fine.

To promote new research and development as well as create new plant varieties in Thailand, Pachoke said the government should suspend the ministry's regulations and amend the Plant Variety Protection Act in accordance with the current trade situation.

He said that enterprises would not mind sharing profits with the government but that the intellectual property rights should belong to the developer. The seven associations will soon send a letter opposing the regulations to the incoming government and Cabinet.

They will also propose the government develop Thailand as a centre of seed development in the Asean region, promoting research and innovation in seeds and the agricultural industry.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Thai seed exports were worth Bt2.05 billion in the first five months of the year, with most exports being maize seeds. Seed exports are expected to grow 6.5-7.5 per cent in the remaining months of the year, pushing seed export value past Bt4 billion this year, from last year's Bt3.1 billion.