Cases / Genetic resources and benefit-sharing · Switzerland · 2013–2014
Nestlé black cumin patent application draws protest of over 300,000 signatures
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
Nestlé applied for a patent on black cumin for food allergy use, and a protest with over 300,000 signatures followed. The sources reviewed do not state the outcome of the application.
What?
Nestlé applied for a patent on black cumin (thymoquinone) for food allergy; over 300,000 signatures were gathered in protest. NutraIngredients
Where?
Switzerland and the Middle East. NutraIngredients
When?
2013 to 2014. NutraIngredients
Who?
Gained
- Nestlé — Patent application on black cumin (thymoquinone) for food allergy NutraIngredients
Lost
None on recordHarmed
None on recordWhy?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
Patent application opposed through a signed objection of over 300,000 signatures. NutraIngredients
6 of 6 questions answered from the record
What happened
The record, in order.
NutraIngredients reported in 2013 that Nestlé defended its plant patenting after a protest with over 300,000 signatures.
NutraIngredients reported that the application concerned black cumin (thymoquinone) for food allergy.
In court and with insurers
Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.
Lawsuits and rulings
No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.
Insurers
No insurer decision on record.
What we don't know
Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- None on record The sources reviewed do not state whether the patent application was granted, withdrawn or refused.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not record any benefit-sharing payment linked to the application.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers
Press and investigations
- Nestlé defends plant patenting as 300,000 protestNutraIngredients · 2013
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