January 2024 will see a focal moment in the field of Plant Variety Rights (PVRs) Enforcement. Organized by the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), this seminar is set to take place on the 15th and 16th of January.
The workshop, representing a cornerstone event under the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, is poised to bring together a diverse group of participants. Customs officers, anti-fraud food authority staff, and representatives from the agricultural and horticultural sectors will unite to share knowledge and best practices on the enforcement of Plant Variety Rights. This collaborative effort signifies a step forward in protecting plant innovation with an effective intellectual property right system.
Among the different actors, customs officers play a crucial role in the enforcement of PVRs by preventing infringing goods from entering and circulating within the European Union. Given that plant varieties are self-reproducing and easy to copy, and with infringers becoming increasingly innovative and sophisticated in their methods, the engagement of customs officials is essential. They are tasked with the daily challenge of inspecting a large number of shipments from around the world, which may contain potentially infringing plant material. This involves an active dialogue between rights holders and enforcement agencies to enable recognition of infringing activities and goods.
In the words of the President of CPVO: “our focus is to support breeders with an effective system of intellectual property rights within the EU. This gathering is a precious occasion to raise awareness and share best practices among the different actors of the PVR value chain”.
“We hope that with this workshop we will have contributed to create a more inclusive environment that recognize the importance of plant innovation”.
The Community Plant Variety Rights (CPVR) system has demonstrated its contribution in terms of environmental impact, as evidenced by a recent joint CPVO-EUIPO Study. This impact includes a significant decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and water usage in the agriculture and horticulture sectors.
The CPVR-protected plant varieties have added €13 billion in value to the EU economy, alongside generating considerable employment opportunities.
This workshop aims to deepen the understanding of plant variety rights, enhance enforcement techniques, and encourage the collaboration between the different actors involved.