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Re: New EU law regulating availability of new varieties
perennials@hort.net
  • Subject: Re: New EU law regulating availability of new varieties
  • From: "* <k*@comcast.net>
  • Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2013 18:06:45 -0500
I seem to remember this topic coming up several years ago, or that I read about it somewhere. I think the topic came up on a more universal note, not just a European Commission. What I recall from that time was that the ORD would be required to be written in Latin and that there just weren't enough people skilled in writing these 2 to 4 page technical descriptions in the required language. Then I heard nothing more until now.
I do fear "The result will be a reduction in choice and diversity, with the loss of many older varieties forever." Is it really that big a problem that Gurney's decides to offer Echinacea 'Tomato Glop' to compete with E. Tomato Soup'? The freedom to offer something similar shouldn't be curtailed just because some group has a micromanagement fetish.
As it is, we've slowly (or quickly, depending on your view) been losing specialty nurseries like Seneca Hill, Heronswood, and are steered to the bigger houses if you're interested in mailorder (which for me is the major way I have of obtaining what I want) Small nurseries are gobbled up and plant lists get streamlined. Locally, the big box stores have done their best to muscle in with low prices, trying to tell you that what they have, you will grow. (and the huge push in recent years toward more annuals is bothersome). Little guys find it hard to compete.
We've all experienced having a beloved plant that can't be replaced because it's no longer available anywhere. Laws like this will escalate this problem. I don't like it. I don't believe it is necessary. No one would win but the micromanagers and we'd all lose. 



Kitty
neIN, Zone 5
----- Original Message ----- From: "Christopher P. Lindsey" <lindsey@mallorn.com> 
To: <perennials@hort.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2013 1:08 PM
Subject: Re: New EU law regulating availability of new varieties



----- Original Message -----

From CNN today, a proposed new EU law regulating availability of new
plant varieties. Nor sure how this would impact us here in the US.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2013/sep/26/eu-regulation-garden-plants


I think the taxonomist lobby has been strong on this one.  :)
Suddenly their work isn't going to be relegated to the dusty
backrooms of herbaria any more!

OK, maybe not.

The only good thing that I see coming from this is that plant
development may be more feature-oriented rather than profit-
oriented.  It's confusing to see different breeders coming out
with plants that are exactly the same as some other company's
plants just so they can keep up with Joneses.  The you have
two plants that are seemingly identical with no visible
difference between the two.

On the other hand, like the article states, it's going to be expensive
for breeders to get these plants out there.  They'll focus on
the big money-makers and little oddball mutations without big
money behind them are going to languish in their breeders'
gardens.

Chris

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