Plant Improvement and Plant Breeders’ Rights Bills [B8 & 11 – 2015]: finalisation

Meeting report

The Chairperson welcomed everyone and explained that the purpose of the meeting was to finalise two bills – the Plant Improvement Bill and Plant Breeders’ Rights Bill. 

Plant Improvement Bill: finalisation

The Chairperson outlined the purpose of the Bill - the aim was to provide for the registration of certain types of business relating to plants and propagating material intended for cultivation, sale, and the registration of premises on or from which that business is conducted. Furthermore, the Bill provides for quality standards for plants and propagating material intended for cultivation and sale and conditions of sale of plants and propagating material. The Bill also provides for a system for national listing of plant varieties. The Bill includes the evaluation of plant varieties in order to ensure value if there is doubt in respect of the value for cultivation and use of plant varieties intended for cultivation and sale. Lastly, the Bill provides for import and export control of plants and propagating material and a system for different types of schemes for plants and propagating material; and to provide for matters connected therewith. 

The Chairperson went through each clause (from clause 1 to 66) reading out the headings and asked Members if they agreed to each provision.

The Committee agreed to all of the clauses and raised no objections.

At the end of this process, the Chairperson put the entire Bill for adoption.

Members of the Portfolio Committee adopted the Bill with no objections.

Plant Breeder’s Rights Bill: finalisation

The Chairperson explained that the Bill provides for a system where plant breeders’ rights relating to varieties of certain kinds of plants may be granted. Furthermore, it outlines the requirements that have to be complied with for the grant of such rights and for the scope and protection of such rights. In addition, the Bill provides for the grant of licences in respect of the exercise of such rights and provides for matters connected therewith.

The Chairperson went through each clause (from clause 1 to 61) reading out the headings and asked Members if they agreed to each provision.

The Committee agreed to all of the clauses and raised no objections.

At the end of this process, the Chairperson put the entire Bill for adoption.

Members of the Portfolio Committee adopted the Bill with no objections.

Committee Report on Plant Improvement Bill

The Committee Secretary read out the report:

The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, having considered the subject matter of the Plant Improvement Bill [B8 – 2015] (National Assembly – Sec 76), referred to it on 3 March 2015 (see ATC, 3 March 2015) and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) as a section 76 Bill (see ATC, 19 May 2015), reports the Bill with amendments [B8B - 2015]. The amendments were included.

The Committee agreed to the report with no changes.

Committee Report on Plant Breeder's Bill

The Committee Secretary read out the report:

The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, having considered the subject matter of the Plant Breeders’ Rights Bill [B11 – 2015] (National Assembly – Sec 76), referred to it on 11 March 2015 (see ATC, 11 March 2015) and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) as a Section 76 Bill (see ATC, 21 April 2015), reports the Bill with amendments [B11B - 2015]. The amendments were included.

The Committee agreed to the report with no changes.

The Chairperson said the reports will be published in the ATC and referred to the NA.

The Chairperson thanked the legal teams and Members.

Invite

The Chairperson announced that the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation had invited the Committee to its meeting taking place the following day. She encouraged all those who did not have meetings to attend. That committee would be dealing with important topics and discuss legislation that would affect this Committee. Those who can not attend would be briefed by those who were there.

The meeting was adjourned.