ECAP-sponsored Study Visit on Plant Varieties by Philippine and Thai Experts to Europe during 13-17 May , 2002

With the Philippines and Thailand in the process of establishing a system for proper protection of plant varieties, administration and enforcement, exposure to national systems in Europe and European Community-wide system administered by the Community Plant Variety Office would help facilitate the task.

This activity is meant to equip the participants -- two Philippine and two Thai officials involved in the task—with an overview and understanding of the most important and relevant issues in this relatively new topic for the two countries. The visit allowed for these officials to gather knowledge on key topics with specialist agencies in Europe including:

-International legal framework for the protection, international criteria for standards and assessment of UPOV, an international body specialising in plant varieties protection headquartered in Geneva.
-EPO practices and perspective on plant biotech matters, bio-piracy.
-The Community plant variety protection system (CPVO)

As part of this activity which took them to Munich, Angers and Hanover, the Philippine and Thai participants visited the green testing centres at the Bundessortenant in Hanover, exchanged views with experts at CPVO in Angers on fruits and vegetables, ornamental species, and variety denominations, agricultural species.

>> Photos available <<

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