France: GNIS cracking down on seed laws

At a time when the EU is trying painfully to negotiate new seed laws, what could have just been a banal check of Ariège market has become symbolic in the fight between small producers and large seed growers.

In May 2013 a GNIS (National Inter-professional Union on seed and plants) agent sent by the DGCCRF (General Directorate for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control) told small vegetable farmers that they could not sell their tomato plants and other vegetables if they are not in the official catalogue of vegetable varieties and species. He also reminded them of their obligation to be signed up with the GNIS.

Since 1962 the GNIS has a public authority delegation to certify seeds and plants, control quality and organise the market.

Jérémy Esmiol was one of the small vegetable farmers controlled by the GNIS in May, ''The controller explained to me that if I wanted to avoid a fine, I had to have a GNIS card, had to show receipts to prove the origin of the seeds I use and their inscription in the catalogue''. None of the farmers that were controlled actually got fined. One anonymous farmer says she risked a €450 fine for each variety on offer, so has since signed up (for free) with the GNIS.

''Our aim is to protect the user and the consumer'' explains Gérard Crouau, Regional Delegate of the GNIS.