Chile withdraws 'Monsanto Law' from congress

Keyword:
Publish time: 26th March, 2014      Source: www.cnchemicals.com
Information collection and data processing:  CCM     For more information, please contact us
   


March 26, 2014

   

   

Chile withdraws ''Monsanto Law'' from congress

   

   

   

Citing concerns over the rights of small and medium sized farmers, Chilean government has withdrawn the Plant Growers Law - commonly known as the ''Monsanto Law'' - from the congress.

   

   

The said law was originally brought into Congress during President Michelle Bachelet''s first term in office (2006-10). Supporters of the law maintain that it will bring Chile in line with established international developments in agriculture law and ensure Chile remains competitive in the industry. However, those opposed claim the law largely benefits big seed developers to the detriment of small scale farmers.

   

   

"[The government has] withdrawn the Plant Growers Law from the legislative process, to conduct analysis that takes into account what is known both nationally and internationally in this area and that protects the rights of farming communities, small- and medium-farmers and our country''s seed heritage," Secretary General to the Presidency Ximena Rincón told press.

   

   

While the law states that patents cannot be applied to existing seed, indigenous rights lawyer Ariel Leon points out that farmers may well be required to pay premiums on newly developed plants based on strains that Chilean farmers have been cultivating for generations.

   

   

The sale of domestically grown genetically modified (GM) foods within Chile is prohibited, however, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be grown and exported for sale outside of the country, which is big business. Chile is one of the biggest exporters of transgenic seed in the world, and Monsanto now owns over a third of the market since entering the country in 2005.

   

   

Following the withdrawal of the law, Monsanto issued a press release denying that the company would benefit if the legislation were to pass.