Following the REGULATION (EU) 2021/1873 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 October 2021, the European Union has extended the protection periods for 4,302 plant variety titles.
This amendment, under Regulation (EU) 2021/1873, directly impacts species such as Asparagus officinalis L., as well as flower bulbs, woody small fruits, and woody ornamentals.
The Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) is tasked with implementing these extended protection periods, which now concerns over 4,000 varieties of the species group concerned and protected under the EU system. In 2023, the enhanced legal framework ensured extended protection for 453 new plant varieties, emphasizing the breadth of its influence.
This extension of protection periods allows breeders to maintain exclusive rights to their varieties for a longer duration, promoting sustained investment and innovation in plant breeding. Such measures are pivotal in addressing critical challenges such as climate change and food security by encouraging the development of resilient and diverse plant varieties.
By affirming the EU’s commitment to agricultural innovation and sustainability, this legislative enhancement ensures a supportive environment for the ongoing advancement of the plant breeding industry, fostering a greener and more sustainable future.