New EU law to block gardeners collecting and growing from their own seeds.
Dear All
Please let me draw attention to a new EU law which is currently trying to be brought in which would criminalise the act of collecting and then growing seeds from non-EU approved listed sources. This is not a hoax - even though it sounds too unbelievable to be true. Please investigate for yourselves. A good start is this link to an on-line petition.
www.avaaz.org/en/petition/We_dont_accept_this_Let_us_keep_our_seeds_EU
Just imagine the implications!
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Sorry I just realised that most people (including myself) would not want to click on an internet link)
To look at this yourself type 'real seeds in EU law' into your search engine and that will be a good place to start.
So, how will they enforce this? They will have a job on there!
I am pretty sure that when you check the detail it will refer to commercial activity only, such as selling seed or growing crops for sale that have come from unauthorised seed. it won't apply to ordinary gardeners.
Will there be a 'seed police', like they are going to have to have the 'barley police' to stop people using barley to clear their ponds? If this rule does apply to domestic gardens I will completely ignore it; how else would we develop new varieties of flowers and veg?
I get pretty het up about a lot of EU legislation (olive oil!), but I would like to know more before rubbishing this one. They may be trying to prevent illegal use of GM seeds by farmers, or the import of alien species considered harmful to native plants. The target will be commercial seed suppliers. They will not be trying to stop gardeners swopping seeds, just in the same way as the legislation on home made jams and cakes is not intended to stop you giving your produce to a friend.
Gold1locks, does the new law on homemade jams and cakes stop the W.I. from selling their stuff?
Not this law, but the WI stopped selling cakes and jam a while back due to laws on food labelling, kitchen inspections etc.. And just a week or so ago it became illegal to sell jam using recycled lids. Not sure where I stand on this one.
G1l, the local ladies sell local stuff at the local market, are they revolutionaries? I DO hope so
It is up to each local authority to decide whether to act or turn a blind eye. Many do.
Thank you for info.