Sir, A very important piece of legislation coming before the European Parliament for a final reading this week has the potential to harm the poor of the developing world. It is the "Directive on the Legal protection of Biotechnological Inventions". It aims to harmonise legislation in the complex area of intellectual property rights between member states. While this is not an area of European legislation in which Concern would normally intervene, we are particularly worried about a section of the directive that would undermine efforts to improve food production in the developing world - efforts that are critical if we are to see famine becoming a thing of the past.
The directive as it now stands would make it illegal for a farmer to sell seeds, even locally or within farmers' organisations or co-operatives. We are calling for amendments to be included which would recognise "farmers' privilege" - the right of small farmers to freely re-use all patented seed and to save and further develop their own seed. Farmers need to be guaranteed rights to sell seeds and propagate material for agricultural purposes.
We broadly favour the seed for protection of "intellectual property rights", since the patenting of industrial invention is an inherent part of the economic system of which Ireland and Europe are part, and which can, if it is carefully controlled by governments and their civil societies, lead to rapid development out of poverty.
We do not accept that the extension of these rights to plants, animals and parts of humans should lessen the rights of individuals in less developed countries who have contributed towards the development of these living resources through knowledge passed from generation to generation. Nor should they provide opportunities through gaining exclusive rights to seed ownership.
We are calling on our MEPs to ensure that the interests and future livelihoods of people in the countries where we work - countries such as Mozambique, Ethiopia, or Uganda - are not undermined.
In the forthcoming referendum on Amsterdam Irish citizens are being asked to vote for a strengthening of our engagement with our neighbours in the European Union. In doing so we also have the opportunity to use our influence to ensure that Europe plays fair in its relations with the less developed countries in the world. This is a good place to start. - Yours, etc., David Begg
Chief Executive, Concern, Camden Street, Dublin 2.