THE LAW OF THE SEED

THE LAW OF THE SEED (click here to view/download copy)

Control over seed is control over food.

An example is the newly proposed EC seed legislation imposing compulsory registration of all seeds, including those used by organic farmers and gardeners. 

Similar legislation is being introduced across the world.   The European court of Justice ruling in the Kokopelli case is an indication of how, even courts are being influenced by corporate monopolies and the paradigm of industrial agriculture.  The recent  US Supreme Court ruling in the case of Monsanto versus Bowman is a wake-up call for citizens to assess the consequences of patents on seed.

the freedom of seed and the freedom of farmers and gardeners to freely save and exchange seed and to be free of GMOs and seed monopolies.

On 17^th of May at Terra Futura in Florence, Navdanya  presented the Law of the Seed based on scientific and legal principals that protect diversity and democracy. 

The Law of The Seed puts at its centre Seed Freedom – the freedom of the seed, of farmers, gardeners and all citizens – in place of the illegitimate freedom of corporations to claim the genetic wealth of the planet as their invention and property, while criminalizing citizen freedoms.

We invite you to contribute to a global report on Monsanto's empire and the worldwide Monsanto Protection Acts threatening our seed sovereignty and food sovereignty. We hope you could send us 2-5 pages identifying in your respective countries unjust seed laws and “Monsanto Protection Acts” related to patents, biotechnology and bio-safety and seed laws criminalizing farmers' varieties so that we can launch it together during the fortnight for Seed Freedom from 2^nd October to 16^th October 2013.

www.navdanya.org, www.seedfreedom.in, www.navdanyainternational.it 

SB234 was reheard in Senate Judiciary

On Friday, March 1, SB234 was reheard in Senate Judiciary. On Wednesday, we had been told that it would not be heard as the committee hearings would end at 6 pm. So, we left. Later, after the Chair, Sen. Richard Martinez, and other Democrats had left, Sen. Joseph Cervantes had the bill heard and it passed. We complained, especially since this bill directly impacts Sen. Cervantes. His brother is the President of the NM Chile Association.

On Friday, the bill passed as three Democratic senators were not in the room to vote. It now goes to the Senate Floor. The vote was Democrats (2 - Wirth, McSorley) against the Republicans (4 - Torraco, Payne, Griggs, Ryan)and Sen. Cervantes (D).

An amendment presented on Friday was for restaurants (SB234):

1. On page 3, strike line 2 through 5 in their entirety and
insert in lieu thereof

"C. The prohibitions in this section do not apply to a restaurant that
describes a menu item using a geographic name provided for in Paragraph (2)of Subsection A of this section; provided that the origin of any chile in the menu is not misrepresented."

Meanwhile, the House version will now go to Senate Conservation.

---------------------------------------------
At the hearing Gene Baca of Bueno Foods presented. He had a bag of red chile pods that said "New Mexico Chile" and it was labeled "Hecho en Mexico." They considered this a violation because the company used the term "New Mexico Chile."

We then pointed out that under FDA guidelines it was correct. "NM" is
the cultivar and it did not say it was from NM, it clearly states "Hecho en Mexico." He shook his head in agreement.

We the pointed out that the argument companies had used against
the GMO labeling bill was that they would have to create a new
label for NM. And now, the NM Chile Association is asking for exactly the same thing.

Special thanks for Sen. Wirth (505-986-4861) and Sen. McSorley (505-986-4389) Please call their offices and thank them for their support. Also, thanks to the woman who spoke at the end, Food and Water Watch and NM Conservation Voters for their ongoing support. And to everyone who has attended hearings, waited and waited, and everyone who continues to call.

Updates HB238 will be heard next week in Senate Conservation

House Bill 238 has passed the house floor it will be heard next week in Senate Conservation. Please start calling the senators(info below) check back Sunday for updates.

--------------------------------------------

• Register with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA).
• Have a verification form follow every sale you make.
• Gives the NMDA authority to enter your  “store, market or other business or place”      to inspect and audit records related to chile.

Updates - SB234 Passed

Last night(Wednesday 27, Feb 2013) we were told  that Senate Bill 234 would not be heard and after we left with Senator Cervantes as vice-chair the bill was heard and passed.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Protect our Chile Farms from More Government Oversight!

Say NO to SB234!

SB 234 (Expanding Violations of the NM Chile Advertising Act – Sen. George Munoz)

will be heard in Senate Conservation tomorrow, February 12^th

                At 2:30 in Room 311 at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe.

Click on Introduced at this website for a copy of the bill:  http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/_session.aspx?chamber=S&legtype=B&legno=%20234&year=13

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a bill for the New Mexico Chile Industry, written by the NM Chile Association, and NOT for New Mexico family farmers.

This law requires if you “advertise, describe, label or offer for sale chile peppers using the name of any geographic area or feature in New Mexico,”

You have to do the following:

1. oRegister with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA).
2. oHave a verification form follow every sale you make.
3. oIt also gives the NMDA authority to enter“store, market or other business or place” to inspect and audit records related to chile.

This is more big government over our farming activities,

especially our small farmers!

Line up and demand the legislators listen to us!  (Please be polite)

===================================================

Call, email, and pack the room. 

Senate Conservation - Rm 311 at 2:30, Tomorrow Feb 11^th