Amendment soon in force

End to patenting of malting barley is coming

An important milestone has been set for the diversity of varieties and flavors. Following several years of requests, the Austrian Council of Ministers has finally decided to ban patents, which will come into force on July 1, 2023.

This amendment will be of great benefit to the Austrian and European brewing industry. 

"It's about time that this madness of patenting seeds and plants was finally put to an end."

so Nikolaus Riegler, Sprecher und Eigentümer aus sechster Generation, der Privatbrauerei Hirter, welche sich bereits seit 1846 in Familienbesitz befindet.

To better understand the background story, it should be noted that large corporations have been abusing the European patent directives for years by applying for patents on conventionally bred animals and plants, such as malting barley.

"It is to be hoped that the EU will follow suit as quickly as possible, because the seeds of malting barley varieties must not be used as a plaything by large corporations!", Nikolaus Riegler summarizes.