Inputting the EU Revision on Seed Marketing

31 March 2022

In the European Union (EU) and the EU Member States, seed laws and regulations have been designed to cater to the needs of the agricultural industry, and the rights of peasants have been largely neglected.

As the EU is revising its legislation on seed marketing, the Geneva Academy is inputting this process. Our research team – Dr Christophe Golay and Dr Karine Peschard – provided a series of official submissions to the European Commission (EC) – in charge of organizing the public consultation around this revision – to ensure that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants (UNDROP) and its article 19 on the right to seeds are taken into account.

Ensuring Respect for the Right to Seeds and Peasants’ Rights

Our submissions consist of a background paper and answers to more than 150 questions. These build on a previous submission that we presented to the EC back in July 2021.

‘Our objective is that this revision will lead to the recognition of peasants’ right to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seeds, and their right to maintain, control, protect and develop their seeds and traditional knowledge’ explains Dr Christophe Golay, Senior Research Fellow and Strategic Adviser on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at the Geneva Academy.

‘Ensuring that this new legislation on seed marketing is fully in line with UNDROP is key as it will be automatically transposed in the 27 EU member states' national seed marketing regimes. It is also key that the EU respects its international law’s obligations to ensure that human rights have precedence over other regimes like trade or intellectual property’ recalls Dr Karine Peschard, Associate Research Fellow at the Geneva Academy.

Following this EC consultation process, the EC will formally propose a regulation (with direct effect) or a directive (to be transposed in the EU Member States) that will then be negotiated by the European Council and the European Parliament for adoption in 2023.

Hands holding earth

In the coming months, the Geneva Academy will continue to accompany this process and push for the integration of the right to seeds in this revision process via targeted expertise, key events and the organization of exchanges between seeds networks and peasants’ organizations.

Part of our Project on the Right to Seeds in Europe

These submissions form part of our research project on the protection of peasants’ right to seeds in Europe.

Besides influencing the revision of the EU rules on seeds, it also aims at deepening collaboration between leading European peasant organizations and seed networks, empowering them in their advocacy and lobbying on the right to seeds, and facilitating the implementation of the right to seeds in the EU Member States.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

neurotech image News

Human Rights Concerns in Neurotechnology Examined in New Research Brief

15 April 2025

Our research brief 'Neurotechnology - Integrating Human Rights in Regulation' examines the human rights challenges posed by the rapid development of neurotechnology.

Read more

EQINET Logo News

In Highlight: Equality Bodies Comparison Dashboard

20 August 2025

Via its DHRTTDs Directory, the Geneva Human Rights Platform provides a comprehensive list and description of such key tools and databases. But how to navigate them? Which tool should be used for what, and by whom? This interview helps us understand better the specificities of the current highlight of the directory: Equality Bodies Comparison Dashboard

Read more

Seed Event Event

The EU Reform on Seed Marketing, the Right to Seeds and the ECI on the Right to Food

16 October 2025, 14:00-17:00

This event will present the current state of discussions in the EU Council on the new seed legislation and the current priorities of ARCHE NOAH.

Read more

A general view of participants during of the 33nd ordinary session of the Human Rights Council. Training

The Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights System: Raising the Bar on Accountability

10-14 November 2025

This training course will explore the origin and evolution of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and its functioning in Geneva and will focus on the nature of implementation of the UPR recommendations at the national level.

Read more

Town Hall Meeting Training

Localizing International Human Rights

8-10 October 2025

This training course, specifically designed for staff of city and regional governments, will explore the means and mechanisms through which local and regional governments can interact with and integrate the recommendations of international human rights bodies in their concrete work at the local level.

Read more

Project

The Lake Room Initiative (Space for Dialogue)

Started in February 2024

Read more

Session of a UN Treaty Body Project

Treaty Bodies Individual Communications Procedures

Started in January 2019

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more