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TWN
Info Service on Intellectual Property Issues (Nov14/10) Updates on Plant Variety Protection Issue # 11 – November 18, 2014
1. Editorial In this issue, APBREBES presents and examines key outcomes of UPOV’s 2014 Autumn session in particular seed industry’s proposal for an international system of cooperation for filing and examination of plant breeder rights (PBRs), UPOV’s interrelations with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and UPOV’s Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) Response on “subsistence farmers”. Also noteworthy is APBREBES’s access to UPOV’s restricted documents using the national Freedom of Information Acts.
UPOV bodies – the Council (48th session), the Consultative Committee (88th session), the Administrative and Legal Committee (70th session), and the Administrative and Legal Committee Advisory Group (CAJ-AG) – met in Geneva from 13th to 17th October 2014. For highlights of the main discussions and outcomes, read 3. Multinational seed industry pitches for further harmonization in UPOV The multinational seed industry is pressing for more international harmonization of the plant breeders’ rights protection system that will intensify corporate control. The International Seed Federation (ISF), the International Community of Breeders of Asexually Reproduced Ornamental and Fruit Plants (CIOPORA) and CropLife International (CLI) argued for this at the 88th session of the Consultative Committee (CC) of UPOV, calling for an international filing system, an UPOVquality assurance program and a central examination system for variety denominations. This TWN article highlights key elements of the seed industry proposal and analyses claims of the industry from a development perspective.
Unlike most intergovernmental organisations that allow access to its meeting documents and proceedings, UPOV restricts access to meeting documents of the ConsultativeCouncil, to its member states. Thus with the aim to enhance transparency in UPOV matters, APBREBES has from time to time been making requests under various Freedom of Information Acts. The latest request has facilitated access to restricted UPOV documents concerning the 88th session of the Consultative Council meeting that was held on 15th October 2014. These documents are available here. See also other UPOV “Restricted Area” documents
Spring session of UPOV bodies, 26 to 27 March 2015
See also the Upcoming Events on our website Subscribe Subscribe to the APBREBES Newsletter. You are welcome to forward this issue to other interested individuals or organisations. Feedback & Contact Susanne Gura, APBREBES Coordinator Tel: 0049 228 948 0670 Mob: 0049 177 669 1400 Mail: contact@apbrebes.org Web: www.apbrebes.org
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