UPOV

International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
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Formation	1961
Type	Intergovernmental organization
Headquarters	Geneva, Switzerland
Membership	76 members
Language	English, French, German, Spanish
Leader title	Secretary-General
Leader name	Daren Tang
Website	www.upov.int

The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) is an intergovernmental organization with the mission to provide and promote an effective system of plant variety protection, with the aim of encouraging the development of new varieties of plants for the benefit of society.

History

UPOV was established by the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, which was signed in Paris in 1961. The Convention has been revised several times, with the most recent version being adopted in 1991. The organization is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Objectives

UPOV's main objective is to provide a sui generis system of intellectual property protection specifically adapted to the process of plant breeding. This system is designed to encourage the development of new plant varieties by granting breeders exclusive rights to their new varieties, subject to certain conditions.

Membership

As of 2023, UPOV has 76 members, which include both countries and intergovernmental organizations. Membership is open to any state that is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) or is a party to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.

Structure

UPOV is governed by the Council of UPOV, which is composed of representatives of the member states. The Council is responsible for the overall direction of the organization and meets annually. The day-to-day operations are managed by the Office of the Union, which is headed by the Secretary-General.

Activities

UPOV provides guidance and assistance to its members in the implementation of plant variety protection systems. It also organizes seminars and workshops to promote understanding of plant variety protection and to facilitate cooperation among its members.

Criticism

UPOV has faced criticism from some non-governmental organizations and civil society groups, who argue that its system of plant variety protection can negatively impact biodiversity and farmers' rights. Critics claim that the UPOV system favors large agribusiness companies and can lead to the monopolization of plant genetic resources.

See also

• Plant breeders' rights
• Intellectual property law
• World Intellectual Property Organization

External links

• Official UPOV website