Plant Variety Journal - IP Australia

UPOV Developments
The UPOV Convention provides the international legal framework for the granting of
plant breeders’ rights which are a key element in encouraging breeders to pursue and
enhance their search for improved varieties with benefits such as higher yield and
quality and better resistance to pests and diseases. Plant breeders’ rights thereby help
to enhance sustainable agriculture, productivity, income, international trade and
economic development in general.
The members of UPOV are (as of November 18, 2007):
Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, European Community, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway,
Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova,
Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tunisia, Ukraine, United
Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. (Total 65).
On October 18, 2007 Turkey deposited with the Office of the Union its instrument of
accession to the 1991 Act of the UPOV Convention. The 1991 Act entered into force
for Turkey on November 18, 2007. On that day, Turkey became the 65 th member
state of UPOV.
Further Information on UPOV and its activities is available on the website located at
http://www.upov.int
The adopted UPOV Technical Guidelines (TG) for testing different plant species are
now available for this website at
http://www.upov.int/en/publications/tg-rom/index.html
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Plant Varieties Journal Vol. 21 No.3