On 24 February 2026, the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) and Taiwan signed an agreement in Taipei to strengthen cooperation on the protection of Oncidium and Phalaenopsis orchids. The accord updates the bilateral framework by adding Oncidium to the list of species eligible for streamlined procedures. CPVO President Francesco Mattina and Agriculture and Food Agency Director Yao Shih-yuan signed the document.
The agreement focuses on the mutual recognition of Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) testing. DUS tests provide the technical proof that a plant variety is distinct from existing ones, uniform in its characteristics, and stable after reproduction. As detailed by Taiwan News, the CPVO will now accept DUS test reports issued by Taiwanese authorities for Oncidium orchids. This allows breeders to bypass duplicate technical trials in the European Union, saving time and reducing export procedures.
Cooperation between the EU and Taiwan on plant variety rights began in 2016, with an initial mutual recognition agreement for Phalaenopsis orchids established in 2019 and renewed in 2023. According to Taiwan Today, the expansion to Oncidium—also known as dancing doll orchids—secures Taiwan's position in the international orchid supply chain and facilitates further access to the European market.
The CPVO will continue to engage with international partners to align technical standards and secure a predictable intellectual property framework for plant breeders.
Image source: © Taiwan and the EU signed an agreement covering Phalaenopsis and Oncidium orchids Tuesday, 2026. (CNA, Ministry of Agriculture photo)