Plant Genetic Resources* (Item Approved without Debate - Extract from: Preliminary Version, Agriculture and Fisheries, 24 Feb)

Brussels, 24 Feb 2004

The Council adopted a Decision concerning the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (13735/03, 5870/04).

The objectives of this Treaty are the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity, for sustainable agriculture and food security.

The Treaty foresees several actions to be undertaken by the contracting parties in order to eliminate threats to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, such as the survey and inventory plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, assistance to local farmers and indigenous communities for the conservation of genetic resources and wild crops. The Treaty recognises the sovereign rights of States over their own plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the necessity, among contracting parties to share the benefits arising from the utilisation of these resources.

http://ue.eu.int/pressData/en/agricult/7 9158.pdf
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