2011 CIOPORA Chronicle - the 50th Anniversary Edition

IRBA
Several crop
sections exist
within CIOPORA,
they group
members with a
special interest in
the respective crop,
thus providing
a platform for
exchanging,
specifically
crop-related,
information. In
cut roses, the
cooperation
between the
International
Rose Breeders’
Association (IRBA)
and CIOPORA,
officially known
as the CIOPOR-
IRBA Cut Rose
Crop Section, has
afforded closer
ties for both
organisations
resulting in
more productive
collaboration on
important PBR
issues.
IRBA president Omer Schneider.
CIOPORA helps
IP owners protect
their rose varieties
International Rose Breeders’
Association (IRBA) was first
organised in October 1989,
during a gathering of cut rose
breeders attending the International
Floriculture Trade Show at the
Aalsmeer Auction. This meeting
was organised by Mr. Peter Ilsink,
Interplant Roses B.V. to discuss a
new organisation expressly devoted
to protecting PBR of cut rose varieties/creations
around the world.
After an unanimous go-ahead was
given, statutes were developed that
outlined the purpose of this new
association to unite the international
breeders of new varieties
of cut roses, in order to facilitate
the mutual exchange of ideas and
experiences and to contribute to the
advancement of their lawful common
interests.
Meetings
Today, meetings are held on a
biannual basis, in the early spring
during the Annual General Meeting
of CIOPORA and again in the
autumn during the trade exhibitions
in the Netherlands (Horti Fair
or IFTF). Mr. Peter Ilsink, Interplant
Roses B.V. became the first
president, followed by Mr. Omer
Schneider, Jackson & Perkins, then
John Dolan, E.G. Hill and since
2002, Mr. Omer Schneider. At each
meeting, members share information
regarding problems, accomplishments
and any PBR activities
in emerging floriculture countries
from around the world including
China, Russia, Ethiopia, India and
Brazil.
Priority countries
Colombia and Ecuador became
priority countries for IRBA to
focus on because neither country
had PBR protection and illegal
propagation of protected varieties
was a BIG problem. Through
assistance from CIOPORA’s Mr.
Rene Royon and action taken by
IRBA, after three years of activity
IRBA finally was able to amend the
Andean Pact and obtain legal PBR
rights in these two countries. A
significant accomplishment. IRBA
also assisted in amending the U.S.
patent law that only protected the
plant, to add “and parts there of”,
which gave better recourse on illegal
flowers exported from Colombia
and Ecuador to the US.
Anti-infringement
activities
Anti-infringement activities are
a continuous and very important
priority of the IRBA membership.
The largest customs seizure of flowers
infringing intellectual property
rights took place in the run up to
Valentine’s Day 2008, when on
application of fifteen leading
cut rose breeding companies from
all over the world, customs authorities
at six major airports in the European
Union determined whether
imported cut roses infringed the
intellectual property rights of theses
breeders.
EDV
Another important milestone was
regarding EDV (Essentially Derived
Varieties). After a couple of years
of discussion, IRBA, during their
Seville, Spain meeting on March 2,
2010, established appropriate EDV
characteristics and thresholds for
cut roses, which was unanimously
approved by the CIOPORA Board
at their San Remo, Italy, meeting
held on July 5 2010.
CIOPORA
During IRBA’s early years as an
Var. Meikatana "SAMOURAI" (©MEILLAND
Photo: DOUBLE M PRODUCTION).
international association, IRBA
frequently worked and collaborated
with CIOPORA on many PBR cut
rose issues that negatively impacted
the industry. Many thanks goes to
Mr. Rene Royon for his help and
support and the associated rose
breeders would also like to thank
Dr. Edgar Krieger, the current
Secretary General for his guidance,
assistance and tireless work in helping
all IP owners to protect their
varieties.
Thanks to the close relationship
with CIOPORA, it was decided
during a meeting in Nice, France
on April 28, 2005, that IRBA
would become a crop section of
CIOPORA
Today, the organisation is known
as CIOPOR-IRBA Cut Rose Crop
Section. This relationship has afforded
closer ties for both organisations
resulting in more productive
collaboration on important PBR
issues. To attend a meeting of this
Crop Section, you must be a breeder
of cut roses and be a member in
good standing of CIOPORA. If
you have any questions regarding
participation in our Crop Section
please contact the Chairman, Omer
Schneider. |||
48 www.CIOPORA.org | CIOPORA Chronicle April 2011