The European Patent Office (EPO) has granted Swiss agrochemical giant Syngenta a patent on a seedless pepper derived from conventional breeding. The patent also covers the plants, their cultivation, harvesting and seeds. Syngenta’s invention claim relates to a “male sterile hybrid pepper plant which grows normal-looking edible seedless fruits throughout the whole plant, wherein said seedless fruits are characterised by being at least 95% seedless.” The patent, published on October 14 under the number EP 2 166 833 B1, also includes the use of this pepper “as fresh produce, as fresh cut produce or for processing, for example canning.” Non-governmental organisations and organic producers were outraged that the EPA has once again granted a patent on a conventionally bred plant because European patent law prohibits patents on plant varieties and on methods for conventional breeding. Nevertheless, the EPO continues to grant patents on plants and their characteristics, seeds and fruits derived from conventional breeding, serving its own interests since its budget is financed by examining and granting patents. Only just in August, Syngenta was granted a new patent on a tomato derived from classical breeding. “Step by step, patent by patent, the seed giants are taking control of our daily food. In future we might even need permission to cut a pepper into pieces,” said Christoph Then for the coalition of No Patents on Seeds!, “In any case Syngenta can prevent anyone from growing or harvesting this pepper, selling it for food or using it for further breeding.” The NGO coalition calls on European governments to take decisive action and to exert their influence via the Administrative Council of the EPO, which acts as the supervisory body. According to François Meienberg from The Berne Declaration, a member organisation of No Patents on Seeds!, “the Administrative Council of the EPO can decide how to effectively implement these prohibitions and thereby stop further patents on conventional breeding. He says European governments must act immediately to stop the EPO from granting more and more patents on our daily food. (ab)