Multilateral Regulatory Regimes and Plant Breeding

A number of governments are now introducing or have recently introduced new national seed laws. The authors review some of the issues that developing country governments should consider as they review these laws.

While the review is not exhaustive, it seeks to contribute to the debates and encourage further inquiry. The policy brief provides a summary of the central provisions made in international law with regard to seeds and intellectual property. It is both a refresher on a well-documented history and a snapshot of where the current gaps and inconsistencies lie—and what they imply. The brief concludes with recommendations to address some of the identified gaps and contradictions in the existing law.