Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Authority

India having ratified the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of the Intellectual Property Rights(TRIPS) has to make PPV&FR Act,2001, for giving effect to Agreement.

• For the purpose of giving effect to “Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001″, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority(PPV&FR) Authority has been setup.

About PPV&FR authority:

• HQ– Delhi.
• Objective– To provide for the establishment of an effective system for:
  • protection of plant varieties;
  • The Rights of farmers in respect of their contribution made at any time in conserving, improving and making available plant genetic resources for the development of the new plant varieties.
  • The Rights of plant breeders to stimulate investment for research and development for the development of new plant varieties.
  • Encourage the development of new varieties of plants.

General Functions of the Authority
• Registration of new plant varieties, essentially derived varieties (EDV), extant varieties;
• Developing DUS (Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability) test guidelines for new plant
species;
• Developing characterization and documentation of varieties registered;
• Compulsory cataloguing facilities for all variety of plants;
• Documentation, indexing and cataloguing of farmers’ varieties;
• Recognizing and rewarding farmers, community of farmers, particularly;