Malaysia’s agriculture ministry is taking a balanced approach to the UPOV 1991 plant treaty, ensuring farmers’ rights to save seeds are protected while encouraging new variety development
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) is proceeding cautiously regarding the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV 1991).
Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin stated the ministry will ensure any amendments to the Protection of New Plant Varieties Act 2004 align with national interests.
He clarified that UPOV 1991 does not impose an absolute ban on farmers saving or replanting seeds. Such practices can be permitted through exemptions under national laws.
“The ministry is committed to ensuring that the rights of smallholder farmers, including saving and reusing seeds for their own use, continue to be protected through exemption provisions under Act 634,” he said in the Dewan Negara.
Chan emphasised that protecting breeders’ rights would not create a seed monopoly. He argued it would encourage the development of higher-quality plant varieties.
“Farmers are free to choose whether to use registered seeds that are protected or other seeds not subject to plant variety protection,” he added.
He was responding to Senator Musoddak Ahmad’s query on the government’s stance on UPOV and measures to protect farmers from monopolies.
In a separate development, Chan announced the ministry is strengthening an integrated digital platform coordinated by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA). The platform aims to ensure subsidies reach actual producers without leakages.
The initiative, expected by mid-2026, will consolidate data on production, marketing, and supply movement into a national ecosystem.
“By integrating existing systems such as production databases, market monitoring systems and statistical portals, the government will be able to establish a more comprehensive digital trail of assistance and subsidy flows from the ministry to producers,” he said.
This was in reply to a supplementary question on plans for an independent audit of subsidy leakages.
The Sun Malaysia
