The UPOV Convention: an International Standard · 11.10.2011 · 1 Brussels, October 11, 2011 The UPOV Convention: an International Standard Peter Button (Vice Secretary-General,

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Brussels, October 11, 2011Brussels, October 11, 2011

The UPOV Convention: The UPOV Convention: an International Standardan International Standard

Peter Button (Vice SecretaryPeter Button (Vice Secretary--General, UPOV)General, UPOV)

EU Plant Variety Rights in the 21EU Plant Variety Rights in the 21stst CenturyCentury

Conference on the outcome of the evaluation of the Conference on the outcome of the evaluation of the Community Plant Variety Rights RegimeCommunity Plant Variety Rights Regime

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PREVIEW

1.1. Overview of UPOVOverview of UPOV

2.2. Some key provisions of the 1991 Act of the Some key provisions of the 1991 Act of the UPOV Convention UPOV Convention

3.3. International harmonizationInternational harmonization

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PREVIEW




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UPOV: INDEPENDENT INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION

The International ConventionConvention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants

established in 19611961

The International UnionUnion for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants

UUnion internationale pour la pprotection des oobtentions vvégétales

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Members of UPOV (green): 70Members of UPOV (green): 70Initiating States (15) Initiating States (15)

& organizations (1) (brown)& organizations (1) (brown)

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Development of Plant Variety ProtectionDevelopment of Plant Variety Protection

Applications: All UPOV

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

1968

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

Europe: EU 27Europe: Non-EU 27North AmericaAsia / PacificLatin AmericaAfricaNear / Middle East

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Number of PBR applications in European Union

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

EU Total (including CPVO)

CPVO

European Union perspectiveEuropean Union perspective

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Number of PBR applications in European Union

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

EU Total (including CPVO)

Projection w ith CPVO titlesmultiplied by 2.5

Linear (Projection w ith CPVOtitles multiplied by 2.5) Projected

CPVO effect

European Union perspectiveEuropean Union perspective

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European Union accession to UPOVEuropean Union accession to UPOV

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Number of Titles Granted (2009)

CPVO 24%

JP 14%

US 12%CN 9%RU 5%

NL 5%KR 4%

UA 3%

AU 3%CA 2%

AR 2%ZA 2%BR 1%DE 1%NZ 1%IT 1%IL 1%CO 1%ES 1%CH 1%PL 1%CL 1%TR 1%EC 1%UY 0%CZ 0%PY 0%MX 0%BY 0%GB 0%RO 0%NO 0%SK 0%DK 0%HU 0%TN 0%BG 0%KE 0%MD 0%AZ 0%LV 0%MA 0%FI 0%IE 0%SE 0%UZ 0%BO 0%GE 0%EE 0%DO 0%LT 0%AT 0%BE 0%KG 0%

Global perspectiveGlobal perspective

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UPOV MISSION STATEMENT“To provide and promote an effective

system of plant variety protection, with the aim of encouraging the development of new varieties of plants, for the benefit of society”

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International Symposium (Seoul, KR)

UPOV Impact Study

Second World Seed Conference (FAO, Rome)

Canada: 10 Year Review

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PREVIEW




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UPOV Membership: territories covered

1991 Act 1991 Act Other Acts Other Acts

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SOME KEY PROVISIONS OF THE UPOV CONVENTION (1991 Act)

(a) Conditions of protection(b) Breeder’s right(c) Exceptions to the breeder’s right

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CONDITIONS FOR GRANTING A BREEDER’S RIGHT

Criteria to be satisfied

• NOVELTY

• DISTINCTNESS• UNIFORMITY• STABILITY

• VARIETY DENOMINATION• FORMALITIES• PAYMENT OF FEES

NO OTHER CONDITIONS!NO OTHER CONDITIONS!

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Authorization of breeder required for:

• Production or reproduction (multiplication)• Conditioning for the purpose of propagation• Offering for sale• Selling or marketing • Exporting• Importing• Stocking for any of the above purposes

…. for any protected variety

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MATERIAL COVERED

• All propagating material

SEEDS

• Harvested material under certain conditions

• Certain products (optional)

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• All propagating material• Harvested material

if obtained through unauthorized use of propagating material unless, reasonable

opportunity for breeder to exercise his right

MATERIAL COVERED

• Certain products (optional)

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VARIETIES COVERED

• which are essentially derived from the protected variety …

• whose production requires the repeated use of the protected varietye.g. hybrids

VARIETIES:• not clearly distinguishable from the protected variety

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ESSENTIAL DERIVATIONPURPOSE:

to ensure sustainable plant breeding development by:– providing effective protection for the

breeder and– encouraging cooperation between breeders

and developers of new technologies such as genetic modification

VARIETIES COVERED

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May be obtained for example by:

•• selectionselection of a natural or induced mutantmutant•• selectionselection of a somaclonal variantsomaclonal variant•• selectionselection of a variant individualvariant individual from plants

of the initial variety•• backback--crossingcrossing• transformation by genetic engineeringgenetic engineering

Essentially Derived Varieties

VARIETIES COVERED

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...a variety shall be deemed to be essentially derived essentially derived fromfrom another variety (“the initial varietyinitial variety”) whenwhen

(i) it is predominantly derived from the initial predominantly derived from the initial varietyvariety, or from a variety that is itself predominantly derived from the initial variety, while retaining the retaining the expression of the essential characteristicsexpression of the essential characteristics that result from the genotype or combination of genotypes of the initial varietyof the initial variety,

(ii) it is clearly distinguishableclearly distinguishable from the initial variety and

(iii) except for the differences which result from the act of derivation, it conforms to the initial varietyconforms to the initial variety in the expression of the essential characteristics that result from the genotype or combination of genotypes of the initial variety.

VARIETIES COVERED

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CompulsoryActs done:• privately and for non-commercial

purposes• for experimental purposes• breeding other varieties (breeder’s

exemption”)OptionalFarm-saved seed

EXCEPTIONS TO THE BREEDER’S RIGHT

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PREVIEW


2.2. Some key provisions of the 1991 Act of the Some key provisions of the 1991 Act of the UPOV ConventionUPOV Convention


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REQUIREMENT TO BECOME A MEMBER OF UPOV

State/Intergovernmental Organizationmust:

• Have a law which conforms to the UPOV Convention

• Ask advice of the Council of UPOV

• If advice positive: deposit instrument of accession

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Development of Plant Variety ProtectionDevelopment of Plant Variety Protection

PBR Titles in Force: All UPOV

0

10'000

20'000

30'000

40'000

50'000

60'000

70'000

80'000

90'000

100'000

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

2007

2010

Tota

l num

ber o

f titl

es in

forc

e

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Num

ber o

f UPO

V m

embe

rs

Titles in Force: All UPOVNumber of UPOV members

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Global perspectiveGlobal perspectiveNumber of Applications by Non-Residents

EU52%

US21%

CH8%

JP5%

AU3%

Other3%

IL2%

NZ2%

AR1%

KR1%

BR1%

CA 0%

RU0%PA0%HR0%ZA0%CR0%CN0%CO0%PY0%TR0%MD0%UA0%

CL0%JO0%NO0%UY0%etc.

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(a)(a) UPOV ConventionUPOV Convention(b)(b) UPOV/INF document seriesUPOV/INF document series(c)(c) Explanatory notes on the UPOV ConventionExplanatory notes on the UPOV Convention(d)(d) General IntroductionGeneral Introduction(e)(e) TGP documentsTGP documents(f)(f) Test Guidelines (website link)Test Guidelines (website link)(g)(g) UPOV Collection of Laws and Treaties (website link)UPOV Collection of Laws and Treaties (website link)(h)(h) List of UPOV members (website link)List of UPOV members (website link)(i)(i) Addresses of Plant Variety Protection Offices (website link)Addresses of Plant Variety Protection Offices (website link)(j)(j) UPOV UPOV OrganigramOrganigram (website link)(website link)(k)(k) Databases and information (website link)Databases and information (website link)

–– List of the List of the TaxaTaxa Protected by the Members of the UnionProtected by the Members of the Union–– Cooperation in ExaminationCooperation in Examination–– List of Species in which practical technical knowledge has been List of Species in which practical technical knowledge has been acquired or for which National Guidelines have been establishedacquired or for which National Guidelines have been established

(l)(l) Plant Variety Database (website link)Plant Variety Database (website link)(m)(m) GENIE Database (website link)GENIE Database (website link)

UPOV Collection UPOV Collection (launch in connection with 50(launch in connection with 50thth Anniversary)Anniversary)

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•• UPOV ConventionUPOV Convention

•• UPOV/INF document seriesUPOV/INF document series

(e.g. (e.g. INF/6 INF/6 Guidance for the preparation of lawsGuidance for the preparation of lawsINF/12 INF/12 Variety denominations) Variety denominations)

•• Explanatory notes on the UPOV ConventionExplanatory notes on the UPOV Convention

UPOV CollectionUPOV Collection

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UPOV CollectionUPOV CollectionDUS ExaminationDUS Examination

•• General IntroductionGeneral Introduction

•• TGP documentsTGP documents

•• Test GuidelinesTest Guidelines

–– 267 Test Guidelines267 Test Guidelines adopted

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UPOV Test Guidelines: CPVO Technical protocolsUPOV Test Guidelines: CPVO Technical protocols

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Test Guidelines

•• 267 Test Guidelines267 Test Guidelines adopted

but…

•• 3,000 genera and species3,000 genera and species with varieties examined for PBR

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Number of plant genera and species for which protection sought (UPOV Members)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

Year

Species with protected varieties

Number of plant genera and species with PBR entries in the UPOV-ROM Plant Variety Database

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Cooperation between Authorities can involve:

•• purchase of DUS Test Reportspurchase of DUS Test Reports from other Authorities

•• bilateral arrangementsbilateral arrangements to remove the need for duplication of DUS Tests

•• centralized DUS testingcentralized DUS testing at regional or global level

Organization of the DUS Examination

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Number of genera/species for which varieties protected by members of the Union: > 3,000

(>10,000 titles granted /annum)

Practical DUS experience offered for >2,600 genera and species Agreements for

cooperation between members of the Union: > 1,400

COOPERATION

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DOCUMENT TGP/5“EXPERIENCE AND COOPERATION IN DUS

TESTING”

Section 1:Model Administrative Agreement

for International Cooperation in the Testing of Varieties

Article 2Where the Council of UPOV has adopted Guidelines for

the Conduct of Tests for Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (“Test Guidelines”) for a genus or species covered

by this Agreement, the examination shall be conducted according to those Test Guidelines. …

Cooperation between Authorities Organization of the DUS Examination

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UPOV CollectionUPOV CollectionDatabases and informationDatabases and information

–– List of the List of the TaxaTaxa Protected by the Members of the UnionProtected by the Members of the Union–– Cooperation in ExaminationCooperation in Examination–– List of Species in which practical technical knowledge has been List of Species in which practical technical knowledge has been acquired or for which National Guidelines have been establishedacquired or for which National Guidelines have been established

•• GENIE DatabaseGENIE Database

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UPOV CollectionUPOV Collection•• Plant Variety DatabasePlant Variety Database

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Data checking, collation and processing

(UPOV)

CPVO (UPOV-CPVO

MoU)

Member States of the EU

European Economic

Area (EEA)Switzerland

EU Common

Catalogues

Plantscope(not

included in UPOV-ROM)

UPOV members not those covered by UPOV-CPVO MoU)

OECD

…..



Jouve

Data not provided by CPVO

Available to UPOV members

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SUMMARY1.1. Overview of UPOVOverview of UPOV

Applications: All UPOV

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

1968

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

Europe: EU 27Europe: Non-EU 27North AmericaAsia / PacificLatin AmericaAfricaNear / Middle East

2.2. Some key provisions of the 1991 Act of the Some key provisions of the 1991 Act of the UPOV ConventionUPOV Convention


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THANK YOU

Documents

The UPOV Convention: an International Standard · 11.10.2011 · 1 Brussels, October 11, 2011 The UPOV Convention: an International Standard Peter Button (Vice Secretary-General,