GREENPEACE CALLS ON EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO HALT PATENTING OF LIFE

Brussels - 14 July 1997

Greenpeace is calling on members of the European Parliament to put ethical, environmental and agricultural concerns over the interests of big business and to reject the European Commission's proposed directive on patenting, which is up for debate in Strasbourg tomorrow (Tuesday). MEPs rejected a similar Directive 1995.

Greenpeace believes that if approved, the Directive will be in conflict with the European Patent Convention, which does not allow the patenting of plants and animals. When national governments try to implement this legislation, this will create a complex and confusing legal situation.

In addition, the approval of such a directive would strongly influence the GATT debate on International Intellectual Property Rights agreement (TRIPS), to be reviewed in 1999. Until now, the European Union position has been that TRIPS must allow for the exclusion of animals and plants from patenting.

"Not only is it a myth that European science or competitiveness has been harmed by the lack of extensive patenting laws, the truth is that it is big transnational biotechnology companies -- and the United States -- who are pushing for this legislation and it is they who will reap the benefits," said Greenpeace campaigner Benny Haerlin.

"These newly formed genetic engineering transnationals, such as Monsanto, Novartis and AgrEvo simply want to knock out the competition and make even more money by grabbing patenting rights all over the world."

Rather than encouraging wide ranging research, Greenpeace believes the result of the Directive would be to prevent scientific collaboration and free exchange of information. Companies will claim exclusive monopoly rights on individual genes and DNA sequences, thus preventing scientists from other companies carrying out their own work in these areas.

World food supply relies on a few major crops -- the patenting of plant and animal genes will narrow down their genetic diversity, harming the environment and allowing a few companies to control the markets. Farmers will find themselves at the mercy of the owners of gene rights. Already farmers using the Monsanto roundup Ready Soybean have had to sign carefully worded contracts, restricting their use and requiring exclusive use of Monsanto pesticides.

"This new directive is unethical and anti-environmental," said Haerlin. "Europe should take pride in defending values such as a respect for life and genetic integrity and take a stand against the greed of transnational corporations. We urge MEPs to follow their strong lead two years ago and vote against this Directive."

For further information contact:
Benny Haerlin, tel. +45 171 356 9109
James Gillies +31 20 524 9548