AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands, January 21, 2010: Dutch customs at Amsterdam Schiphol airport have seized six flower shipments containing Colombian carnations. The action took place on request of the Dutch carnation breeder HilverdaKooij. Part of the seized shipments included the red variety 'Nelson' that is widely grown and protected by plant breeders rights.
The carnations were marketed without permission. If varieties are sold without permission of the breeder, HilverdaKooij is entitled to take action in order to protect the rights of the legal growers and its own intellectual property rights. The action has been taken to pursuit Colombian growers who are not licensed to grow protected varieties  by seizing their illegally marketed carnations. The action resulted in the seizure of carnation shipments of one particular Colombian grower. HilverdaKooij may take  similar actions in the future.