EU and Vietnam cooperate on plant variety protection

CPV: The EU Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) and the Plant Variety Protection Office under Department of Crop Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam on May 19 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the capacity of the plant variety protection in Vietnam.

The agreement is a major step forward in strengthening the co-operation between the two sides in this important sector for the development of Vietnam. It sets forth the terms of cooperation in relation to exchanging results of technical examination and plant material for re-examination (if necessary) and oversight of the use of reports on Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability). By co-operating on examining applications, both parties can achieve important synergies, by saving financial resources and by making the best use of their human resources.

Mr Sean Doyle, Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation of Vietnam said: “Intellectual property rights including Plant Variety Rights are of importance, particularly for a country like Vietnam with a strong agricultural sector. This intellectual right aims to encouraging the development of new varieties of plants, for the benefit of society”.

CPVO President, Mr Bart Kiewiet (right) and Director General of the Department

of Crop Production of Vietnam, Mr Nguyen Tri Ngoc signed the MoU. (Photo: ATP)

According to Mr Bui Ba Bong, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, new plant varieties contribute significantly to the improvement of the quality and productivity. Plant Variety Protection (PVP) encourages breeding and the introduction of new plant varieties to the agricultural production.

“The cooperation on examination of PVP’s with other members helps Vietnam to strengthen the capacity of PVP system and this is a good way to comply fully with its obligation under the Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants Convention, to be achieved in 2016 – to open protection for varieties of all plant species”, stressed Vice Minister Ba Bong.

This MoU forms the legal basis to further extend the co-operation in the mutual takeover of test reports as well as the training and formation of technical specialists./.

http://en.baomoi.com/Info/EU-and-Vietnam-cooperate-on-plant-variety-protection/5/144683.epi