The Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) is set to implement a new policy on public access to documents, effective 15 January 2025, aligning with the European Union's evolving transparency requirements.
Key Points:
- Legal Framework: The policy aligns with recent EU Court of Justice case law, balancing transparency with the protection of sensitive information.
- Confidentiality Requests: Applicants can request confidentiality for documents submitted to the Office containing sensitive commercial information. Requests must be justified in line with Article 4.2 of Regulation 1049/2001, except for data under Article 88.3 of Regulation (EC) No 2100/1994.
- Updated Technical Questionnaires: Technical questionnaires will be updated to reflect these changes and made available in the online filing system from 15 January 2025.
Decision Process: Upon receiving public access requests to the documents concerned, the CPVO will review confidentiality claims and consult applicants if needed. Applicants will be informed if a document is disclosed against their position.
For more details, refer to the full Notice to Applicants on the CPVO website: Public Access to Documents | CPVO (europa.eu).
This policy reflects CPVO's commitment to transparency while safeguarding sensitive information.