PVS: About PVS
UK Plant Variety Rights Office and Seeds Division of Defra
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.
Seed Certification is a quality assurance process which ensures that seeds are sufficiently pure, healthy, viable and correctly labelled. Seeds marketing is regulated and, for most agricultural and vegetable species, only seeds which have been certified may be sold.
The UK participates in various international fora to agree appropriate legislation and technical approaches across these three areas. We work with other Member States and the European Commission, as well as other international bodies and a delivery network within the UK.
Page last modified:
26 September, 2008