§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he list all the potential crop organisms on which Monsanto has secured European patents. [74829]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 5 March 1999]: Up to the end of February 1999, six European patents for crop plants which have been modified in a particular way have been granted to Monsanto by the European Patent Office. The serial numbers of these patents are: EP0340197, EP0293358, EP0289479, EP0269601, EP0223452 and EP0218571. The inventions and the crops to which they 357W relate are specified in the patent specifications. Oppositions have been filed against two of the patents: EP0289479 and EP0269601.