TITLE: China accedes to UPOV AUTHOR: Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) PUBLICATION: UPOV Press Release, No. 36 DATE: 23 March 1999 URL: http://www.upov.int/eng/prssrlss/36.htm UPOV Press Release No. 36 Geneva, March 23, 1999 CHINA ACCEDES TO UPOV The Government of the People?s Republic of China deposited on Tuesday its instrument of accession to the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). This means that new varieties of botanical genera or species from UPOV member states can be protected in China and Chinese varieties can be protected in UPOV member States. The purpose of the UPOV Convention is to acknowledge the achievements of breeders of new plant varieties by granting them an exclusive property right on the basis of a set of uniform and clearly defined principles. To be eligible for protection, varieties have to meet certain conditions such as being distinct from existing, commonly known varieties and sufficiently homogeneous and stable. Protection is given to plant breeders both as an incentive to the development of agriculture, horticulture and forestry, and to safeguard the interests of plant breeders. Improved varieties are a necessary and cost-effective ingredient for achieving food security in a sustainable way. The Director General of WIPO, Dr. Kamil Idris, who is also Secretary General of UPOV, welcomed Beijing?s accession to the 1978 Act of the UPOV Convention. He said that by protecting the rights of plant breeders, the membership of the People?s Republic of China would contribute to promoting agricultural development and ensuring food security. The Regulations of the People?s Republic of China on the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, which conform with the 1978 Act of the UPOV Convention, entered into force on October 1, 1997. The Fourth Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People?s Congress of the People?s Republic of China decided to accede to the 1978 Act at its sessions in August 1998. The accession of the People?s Republic of China, which enters into force on April 23, 1999, brings the total number of member states of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) to 39. They are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, Ukraine, Uruguay. UPOV, an intergovernmental organization based in Geneva, cooperates in administrative matters with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). For further information about UPOV, please contact the UPOV Secretariat: Tel. (+41-22) 338 9155 Fax: (41-22) 733 0336 E-mail: upov.mail(at)wipo.int