Cotton seed companies will no longer require a no-objection certificate (NoC) from licence providers for developing new varieties based on the latter’s technology. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority has waived the condition.
The waiver could open the door for many more companies to develop hybrid cotton seed varieties based on Monsanto’s Bollgard-2 technology. “The NoC greatly hampered the growth of small and medium seed companies, those denied access to the technology,†said Kalyan Goswami, Executive Director, National Seed Association of India.
“Removal of NOC from GEAC and PPVFRA would enable Indian seed companies engaged in Bt cotton to apply for their Bt cotton hybrid approval and sales without signing the one-sided license agreement with Monsanto,†said Goswami, adding, this condition greatly hampered the growth of small and medium seed companies those who were denied access to the technology.