Representing the UK internationally

European Union (EU) Meetings

• Standing Committee on Seeds
• Ad hoc group of experts/rapporteurs
• Council Working Group on seeds legislation
• Standing Committee on Plant Breeders' Rights
• Community Plant Variety Rights Office

International Meetings

• International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
• International Seed Testing Association

European Union (EU) Meetings

Standing Committee on Seeds

The Standing Committee on Seeds is the primary focus of discussion and regulation of EU plant variety and seeds issues. It meets around 7 times a year. PVS (Fera - Plant Varieties and Seeds) attendance at Committee meetings is essential to represent UK interests and to vote on regulatory measures. The Committee also deals with forestry, vines and seed potato issues. PVS liaises with experts in these fields for advice and briefing as required.

EU Seeds Homepage

Ad hoc group of experts/rapporteurs

These groups are established by the European Commission to work on specific issues. Typically these groups are limited to 5 experts from different Member States chosen by the Commission to ensure a broad spectrum of views across the Community. PVS currently represents the UK on the Steering Group for the Seeds Legislation Evaluation Project and on the group set up to consider how the role of the Community Plant Variety Rights Office could be extended.

Council Working Group on seeds legislation

When the Commission makes proposals to the Council of Ministers (rather than the Standing Committee) to amend seeds legislation, these proposals are invariably passed to a Council Working Group to examine. PVS represents the UK at these Working Groups which are also convened to coordinate EC common positions ahead of International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) meetings.

Standing Committee on Plant Breeder's Rights

This Standing Committee is responsible for making secondary legislation on Community plant breeders' rights. In practice, it has become closely allied to the Administrative Council of the Community Plant Variety Rights Office (CPVO).

Community Plant Variety Rights Office (CPVO)

The CPVO, located at Angers in France, processes applications for Community plant breeders' rights. Its day-to-day functions are carried out by appointed officials but policy and direction are supervised by an Administrative Council made up of representatives of the Commission and each Member State. The role of CPVO is becoming increasingly important as breeders gain the benefits of making one application for plant breeders' rights that will apply throughout the EU. With plant variety issues that link directly to discussions in UPOV and the Standing Committees on Seeds and Plant Breeders' Rights, it is vital that the UK is represented at the Administrative Council.

The CPVO also holds an annual meeting of DUS Examination Offices and periodic meetings of technical experts for specific crop groups. With CPVO protocols now forming the basis of DUS tests within the National List system, it is important that the UK is represented where it has an interest.

CPVO Homepage

International Meetings

International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV)

UPOV is an intergovernmental organisation, based in Geneva, established by the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants of 1961, as revised in 1972, 1978 and 1991. The Convention's objective is the protection of new varieties of plants by an intellectual property right. The Office of UPOV is supervised by the UPOV Council which in turn is supported by a Consultative Committee and by an Administrative and Legal Committee. PVS represents the UK at these meetings. Our attendance is decided on a case by case basis according to the type of meeting, the importance and complexity of the subject matter and whether the UK has a strong interest in influencing particular proceedings and outcomes.

The UK also plays an active role in UPOV Technical Committees and Technical Working Parties (TWPs), which discuss specialist issues relating to individual crop groups (agriculture, fruit, ornamentals, vegetables), computing and biomolecular testing. According to UK interests, TWPs are attended by experts from NIAB, the Devolved Administrations and by PVS. TWPs develop Technical Guidelines for DUS examinations which form the basis for CPVO protocols and thus the legal basis for DUS for National Listing in the future.

UPOV Homepage

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

The UK is one of almost 60 countries that participate in the OECD schemes for the varietal certification of seed moving in international trade. The OECD co-operates closely with several international organisations including UPOV, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the International Seed Testing Association and the International Seed Federation. PVS acts as the OECD Designated Authority for the UK. The OECD holds an Annual Meeting to discuss the seed schemes and, increasingly, an Extended Advisory Group Meeting at which countries can request participation. UK Representation is provided by SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture). Developments in OECD seed schemes usually follow through into EU legislation, making it vital for UK views to be represented at OECD discussions.

OECD Homepage

International Seed Testing Association (ISTA)

ISTA was established in 1924 at NIAB Cambridge; its current headquarters are located in Switzerland. ISTA is accepted internationally as the body responsible for setting rules and procedures for seed sampling and seed testing (except in the USA which has its own body) and accredits laboratories for the issue of testing certificates. Seed lots accompanied by ISTA certificates are recognised as having been sampled and tested in accordance with prescribed methods. Procedures based on ISTA Rules are used for seed testing in the UK and most other EU Member States, forming the basis for internationally accepted methods referred to in EU legislation. ISTA has 70 member countries and around 90 accredited laboratories. The UK has three accredited laboratories: the Official Seed Testing Stations (OSTSs) at NIAB, Cambridge and SASA, Edinburgh and a newly accredited laboratory at Fera, York. ISTA policy is managed and directed by an Executive Committee subject to votes expressed by member countries. PVS is the ISTA Designated Authority for the UK and the OSTS Chief Officers attend annual ISTA meetings. UK experts are members of various ISTA technical committees and the UK has an independent member on the Executive Committee.

ISTA Homepage