Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit has ordered an investigation into a company’s application for plant variety protection covering four holy basil varieties, amid concerns the move could affect farmers’ rights and traditional cultivation practices.
Mr Suriya said on Saturday the Department of Agriculture had been given seven days to review the application by CPRAM Co Ltd and determine whether the registration process complied with the law.
He said the ministry recognised public concerns, particularly as holy basil is widely used in Thai cooking and closely linked to the country’s food culture and way of life.
The ministry must ensure that intellectual property protection granted to companies does not undermine farmers’ rights or restrict access to indigenous plant varieties, he said.
Mr Suriya said officials had been instructed to compare the four varieties with existing indigenous holy basil varieties and government research records to determine whether they shared similar characteristics.
The review would also assess whether granting protection could affect farmers’ ability to cultivate and sell traditional varieties.
Agriculture permanent secretary Rapibhat Chandarasrivongs said the department would conduct a detailed examination of the applications, including the conditions and scope of protection sought by the company.
He said the ministry supported research and the development of new plant varieties to strengthen agricultural competitiveness, but such efforts must comply with the law and respect the rights of farmers and independent plant breeders.
“Every step must be carried out correctly and transparently under the law,” he said, stressing that innovation must not come at the expense of farmers’ legitimate rights.
Mr Rapibhat sought to reassure farmers that they remained free to grow, propagate and sell indigenous holy basil varieties, including more than 300 traditional holy basil varieties commonly cultivated in Thailand, without restrictions arising from the applications.
He said vendors, food operators and consumers could also continue buying, selling and using holy basil leaves in food preparation without violating plant variety protection rights.
The department is preparing to clarify the registration details and explain the findings to the public.