Side Event
Protection of New Plant Varieties under the UPOV Convention
Organizer
International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
Date and Time
11 February 2004 13:15 - 14:45
<br>The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) is an intergovernmental organization, based on the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants of December 2, 1961, revised in 1972, 1978 and 1991 (“the UPOV Convention”). The Mission of UPOV is: “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.” <br><br> Today, UPOV has 55 members comprising developed and developing countries. Almost all of them are Contracting Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. <br><br> UPOV holds the view that plant breeding is a fundamental aspect of the sustainable use and development of genetic resources. UPOV is of the opinion that access to genetic resources is a key requirement for sustainable and substantial progress in plant breeding. The concept of the “breeder’s exemption” in the UPOV Convention, whereby acts done for the purpose of breeding other varieties are not subject to any restriction, reflects the view of UPOV that the worldwide community of breeders needs access to all forms of breeding material to sustain greatest progress in plant breeding and, thereby, to maximize the use of genetic resources for the benefit of society. In addition, the UPOV Convention has inherent benefit-sharing principles in the form of the breeder’s exemption and other exceptions to the breeder’s right and UPOV is concerned about any other measures for benefit sharing which could introduce unnecessary barriers to progress in breeding and the utilization of genetic resources. <br><br> UPOV will inform the participants of COP-7 on this approach. <br><br> The presentation will be given by: Rolf Jördens, Vice Secretary-General of UPOV