Plant breeders facing ‘critical situation’ ask nations for support
The International Community of Breeders of Asexually Reproduced Ornamental and Fruit Varieties (CIOPORA) has implored countries to implement support measures for breeders amid the pandemic.
In late March, CIOPORA sent a letter to the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV)—the intergovernmental organisation charged with plant variety protection—requesting that its member states consider measures to help horticultural breeders across the world.
Suggested measures include an extension of deadlines related to the plant breeders’ rights application proceedings, including the grace periods and the deadlines for the submission of plant material and documentation.
“Pinpointing that horticultural breeders are heavily hit by the ongoing crisis both due to diminishing demand for propagating material and the general labour restrictions, CIOPORA has also asked the authorities to consider additional financial relief measures,” said the letter.
These include a reduction of distinctiveness, uniformity and stability (DUS) examination and other fees, or allowing for multiple installments of fees due.
Three days later, UPOV’s vice secretary-general Peter Button confirmed that CIOPORA’s letter was forwarded to the UPOV member states.
In a letter, Button said: “We have invited UPOV members to inform CIOPORA of any measures that have been taken, or are planned, to assist breeders in the current situation.”
The secretary general of CIOPORA, Edgar Krieger, said that the non-governmental organisation appreciated the support of UPOV and its members in this “critical situation for the green sector”.
It has received positive replies from the European Union’s agency Community Plant Variety Office, China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the US Department of Agriculture.
In the US, the USPTO has waived certain trademark and patent filing and fee deadlines, using its newly-acquired authority under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
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