Global: European Parliament votes against patents on plants and animals

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling for the European Patent Office to stop granting patents on the conventional breeding of plants and animals. The resolution was jointly tabled by Members of Parliament from several parties and was adopted with a large majority. The vote follows the demands of some national parliaments, such as the German Bundestag, to put a stop to patents on plant and animal breeding. 'This is a huge success for all farmers, breeders and consumers who are concerned about the monopolisation of our food resources,' says Ruth Tippe from the coalition No Patents On Seeds!