Mr. Chair, one of the concerns that arose out of the consultations was the delineation between the term “storing” and the term “stocking”. Of course, when we endeavoured to draft the legislation, we always considered that the act of storing was implicit. How else are you going to use farm-saved seed but by storing on farm or elsewhere for reuse in subsequent years? Of course, one of the mandatory UPOV provisions is around stocking, and stocking can have a slightly nuanced definition. When we look at stocking, to provide an example, you stock material or foodstuffs in a grocery store. The intention there really is around selling. You are accumulating material of the product to sell.
Through our consultations, as the minister indicated, he will be bringing forward amendments to provide clarity in that regard. But absolutely without question, under the farmers' privilege, a farmer is able to save, reuse, condition, store seed for use in subsequent years. It can be the next year, or it can be many years into the future. Once they have made that qualifying purchase of a PBR-protected variety, they will be able to do that.