§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made on behalf of the Government, within European Union discussions about the general agreement on tariffs and trade, concerning the potential impact on farmers in India and other Commonwealth countries, of proposals made within the GATT agreement for the enforcement of the intellectual property rights over varieties of seeds.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggNo such representations have been made. Traditional or well-known seeds cannot be patented because they are not new. The Uruguay round agreement on trade-related intellectual property rights will not alter this, and farmers in India and elsewhere can go on using such seeds without any restrictions.