In Europe, patenting is covered by national legislation and by the European Patenting Convention of 1973. To harmonize legislation throughout the European Union (EU), the Commission put forward a proposal for a directive, and the hope was expressed that the new directive would find wide support among Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). However, to the surprise of many observers, it was turned down in March 1995. In December 1995, the Commission presented Parliament with a new draft proposal incorporating several changes, such as forbidding patenting of methods for germ-line therapy and allowing farmers to re-sow farm-saved seed without payment of full royalties ('farmers' privilege'). The new proposal will probably come up for official debate by the European Parliament in 1997.
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