Plant Varieties

Plant breeders, ranging from individuals to multi-national companies, are engaged in producing new varieties with improvements in agronomic, environmental and end-use characteristics. The introduction of new varieties for major agricultural and horticultural crops is regulated through a process known as National Listing. For those species within the scope of the legislation, National Listing is a pre-requisite for marketing a plant variety.

A specific form of intellectual property right, known as Plant Breeders' Rights, applies to plant varieties. Breeders can choose whether or not to apply for plant breeders' rights, which enable them to charge royalties for protected varieties. Royalties provide a means for breeding companies to fund their work.

Complete National Lists and current Grants of Plant Breeders' Rights can be found in the latest Special Edition and subsequent editions of the Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette.

What's new

24 August 2010 - Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette: the August edition has been published.

10 August 2010 - Plant Breeders' Rights and National List information letter 4/10 has been published: New conditions for the resubmission of seed for DUS testing; Change to NL Legislation; Consultation on Commission Directive 2009/145/EC on the National Listing and marketing of conservation and amateur varieties of vegetables; New and revised protocols and procedures; Obligatory characters for combinable crops; Change of control variety for Sunflower for harvest 2010; Publication of the second Special Edition for 2010; Annual charges 2011 reminder; Potato VCU work charges; Temporary change of duties in PVS; Next meeting of the NLSC; Office closure date.

5 August 2010 - Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette: the Special edition 2010/2 has been published.

4 August 2010 - A consultation has been published seeking views on the implementation of Commission Directive 2009/145/EC on the national listing and marketing of conservation and amateur varieties of vegetables. For more information please visit the Defra website

3 August 2010 - Plant Breeders' Rights and National List information letter 3/10 has been published: Updated arrangements for NL/PBR applicants for 2010/2011 including particular information for winter oilseed rape applicants.

21 July 2010 - Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette: the July edition has been published.

20 July 2010 - Protocols for Tests and Trials: the VCU Procedures for Maize (forage and grain), Ryegrass, Timothy and Festololium, White Clover, Red Clover and Lucerne and Minor Crops for 2010 harvest have been amended.

30 June 2010 - National Listing Legislation: SI 2010/1195 The Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 implements Commission Directive 2009/74/EC, which amends the botanical names of certain species listed in Council Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC and 2002/57/EC in order to reflect revisions to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and adds the vegetable species Asparagus officinalis L. and Cichorium intybus L. to the list of species to which the provisions of the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 2001 apply.

25 June 2010 - Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette: the June edition has been published.

27 May 2010 - Protocols for Tests and Trials: the DUS Protocols for Barley, Wheat, Oats, Rose and Onion have been amended to show changes in plant material, seed and ear-row requirements and pith cross section states of expression.

24 May 2010 - Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette: the May edition has been published.

21 May 2010 - Protocols for Tests and Trials: the VCU Procedures for Cereals and Winter Oilseed Rape for 2010 harvest have been amended to show new fungicide and plant growth regulator treatments.