Norway: Farmers’ Rights to save, use, exchange and sell

farm-saved seeds and propagating material

Bell Batta Torheim, Development Fund

Seed Legislation• 2004: change in seed

law: quality and diseases• Only authorised

companised allowed to distribute sealed packaged of certified seeds.

• Illegal to give away seeds.

Seed legislation (cont.)

• 2006: ”Discovery” of prohibition• 2007: Civil society campaign• 2009: Public hearing• 2010: change in seed law: conservation

varieties– Exchange and sell any variety on a non-

commercial basis

PVP legislation• 1993: Joined UPOV 1978

• 2005: Proposal to join UPOV 1991

• Public debate, public hearing

• Massiv opposition, new government

• 2010: Still UPOV 1978

• Save, use and exchange, but not sell