MEPs vote supports biotech industry

On 12 May the European Parliament adopted with a large majority the highly controversial Biotech Patents Directive, also called  Life Patents Directive, and thereby granted biotechnology companies property rights on living organisms and human genes, proteins and cells.

In March 1995 the European Parliament  rejected a virtually identical text because they deemed it unethical. Now, after the largest lobby-campaign of the multinational biotech industries, and strong pressure from the Commission and the Council of Ministers, they have been swayed and have adopted this legislation without a single amendment at the second reading. 
    By doing so the European Parliament has ignored all those numerous voices that have warned against this legislation. These come from various medical associations, for example, the World Medical Association, the World Health Organisation, from many patient groups, from  farming groups, from plant and animal breeders, from churches and  religious leaders, animal welfare and development organisations.
    Above all, on the days before the vote  49 delegates to the fourth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Bratislava asked the MEPs not to adopt the Councils' text, because it rewards biopiracy, that is, the appropriation and privatisation of biological materials from third parties, without even requesting consent. Adopting the Directive, Europe has given in to the US and Japan's laissez-faire approach to life patenting. Henk Hobbelink of the Genetics Resources Action International (GRAIN) said: "The European Parliament has unfortunately joined the US crusade to allow patents on virtually anything that lives. Today is a black day in Europe's history."
    Farmers in Europe will be prevented from saving patented seed from several important crops for even their own use, although seed saving and seed exchange are the basis of the crop diversity that humankind, including biotechnology companies, rely upon. On the other hand, many patient organisations are shocked to see how medical developments will be monopolised by those owning patents on particular human genes or on  even well-known micro-organisms. "Biodiversity in Europe has been sold to the highest bidder. Now the fulfilment of basic needs will be subject to royalty charge" Liz Hosken, of the Gaia Foundation stressed.
    Contrary to the claims of some MEPs, the Directive is not a clear, coherent document. It is still full of ambiguities and contradictions which will have to be resolved. MEPs have laid themselves open to challenges on this legislation.

For more information call: Helena Paul, GAIA Foundation, Tel +44 (0)171 435 50 00, or Anna-Rosa Martínez i Prat, GRAIN Tel +34 93 301 13 81.

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 40, June 1998, page 7]