Irish support for the new EU directive on biological patenting should be withdrawn because of the degree of control on food it would give to multinational interests, according to an Irish alliance campaigning against the legislation.
The call was made after the alliance of 15 consumer, environmental, development, farming and religious organisations met Irish MEPs yesterday in Dublin. The directive is due to come back before the European Parliament in May.
The alliance was led by an Indian environmentalist, Dr Vandana Shiva, who claimed it would increase the control of the biotechnology industry over food resources.