Testing of the Criteria for Protection of New Varieties of Plants (DUS Test) will be Possible in Georgia

It will be possible to conduct tests for protection criteria (distinctness, uniformity and stability) (DUS) of new varieties of plants in Georgia in the nearest future. The legal and technical measures required to determine the office authorized to conduct the test were considered during a round table meeting.
Representatives of Sakpatenti, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, the Scientific-Research Centre of Agriculture and the Georgian Seeds and Saplings Association participated in the event held in the online format.
It is noteworthy that to date there is no entity authorized to conduct the DUS test in Georgia, which poses certain difficulties for local breeders in obtaining exclusive rights for new plant varieties. After authorization, it will be possible to register new plant varieties at Sakpatenti on the basis of the results of the DUS test conducted in Georgia. This will save the costs of breeders and will facilitate development of Georgian breeders, seed producers and sapling nurseries.
At the meeting it was noted that the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) will participate in the drafting of relevant legislative amendments. UPOV will assist the Georgian party in establishing the testing body and will share international experience.