Plant Variety Protection Term to be Extended from 25 to 30 Years for Certain Plants

On September 13, the EU Parliament voted to approve the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council to extend the term of Community plant variety rights for the species asparagus and the species groups flower bulbs, woody small fruits and woody ornamentals, from 25 to 30 years.

The EU Parliament adopted the proposal at the first reading and has further referred it to the EU Council for the final word on the eventual extension. If adopted, the Regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and it will enter into force 20 days after publication.

The extension request was made by the Administrative Council of the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) following requests coming from plant breeders represented by the breeders’ organisations including CIOPORA and Euroseeds.

Certain plant varieties are allowed a longer protection term because they typically take longer to grow and are generally more difficult to cultivate. If the 5-year extension is granted for the species asparagus and the species groups flower bulbs, woody small fruits and woody ornamentals, plant breeders will have more time to recoup their investment.

Prepared by: Gergana Aleksandrova and Dimitar Batakliev

For more information, please contact bulgaria@petosevic.com.