Thailand Ministry of Agriculture Clarifies Stance on UPOV 1991 Membership

According to a report by Prachachat Business, the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has addressed concerns regarding the potential adoption of the UPOV 1991 convention. This issue has emerged as a point of discussion within the framework of the Thailand-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.

Following opposition from the Alternative Agriculture Network, the Ministry emphasized that there is currently no definitive conclusion on whether Thailand will join the convention. Officials have committed to an open process, stating that they are actively gathering feedback from all relevant stakeholders. The Ministry explicitly stated that if any conditions within the agreement were to result in the loss of rights for Thai farmers or place the country at a disadvantage, they would not proceed with the accession.

For residents and those involved in the agricultural sector, this development highlights the ongoing sensitivity surrounding intellectual property rights in plant varieties and their impact on local farming practices. As negotiations continue, the primary uncertainty remains the final terms of the FTA and whether a compromise can be reached that satisfies both international trade requirements and domestic agricultural interests. The government has signaled that protecting the rights of local farmers remains a priority in these deliberations.