NICARAGUA ACCEDES TO UPOVToday Nicaragua became the forty-ninth member State of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). 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 as an incentive to the development of agriculture, horticulture and forestry. 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 the accession of Nicaragua to the UPOV Convention (1978 Act). The member States of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) are:
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 E-mail: upov.mail@wipo.int Fax: (+41-22) 733 0336 Website: www.upov.int [End] |
