TITLE: Kenya Accedes to UPOV PUBLICATION: UPOV Press Release, No. 37 DATE: Geneva, 13 April 1999 SOURCE: Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) URL: http://www.upov.int/eng/prssrlss/37.htm UPOV Press Release No. 37 Geneva, April 13, 1999 KENYA ACCEDES TO UPOV The Government of the Republic of Kenya deposited today its instrument of accession to the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). The accession of Kenya will help to secure access for Kenyan growers to the best and latest varieties, particularly for its important horticultural export industry. 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 Kenya?s accession to the 1978 Act of the UPOV Convention. He said that the accession of an additional African State was especially welcomed by UPOV. The economies of most African States and the livelihoods of Africans are heavily dependent upon agriculture and horticulture. The stimulus for plant breeding provided by the accession of Kenya would contribute to agricultural development and food security. The accession of the Republic of Kenya, which enters into force on May 13, 1999, brings the total number of member States of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) to 40. They are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, 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 Website: www.upov.int