Support to the plant variety protection system in Moldova: capacity building or study visit and exchange of EU best practices

Target Country: Republic of Moldova
IPR area: Plant variety rights

A robust and credible plant variety protection (PVR) system is a cornerstone of innovation in agriculture. It encourages breeders to invest in new varieties and supports the competitiveness of the agri-food and seed sectors. In Moldova, the system is well established in law but remains under-used and administratively fragmented. Strengthening quality assurance mechanisms and ensuring impartiality in testing and registration are key to improving confidence and uptake.

The main national instrument is Law No 39-XVI of 29 February 2008 on the Protection of Plant Varieties (amended by Law No 52 of 16 March 2023), which broadly aligns with EU and International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) principles. As a candidate country under the EU–Moldova Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), Moldova is expected to continue approximating its legislation and practice to EU standards.

Despite the sound legal framework, registration rates remain low compared to the national catalogue, indicating limited awareness and use. Ongoing reform of testing structures and administrative procedures offers an opportunity to reinforce transparency, quality control and governance. Targeted capacity-building and stakeholder engagement will help ensure the system is technically reliable, trusted by users and increasing its outreach.

This activity aims to strengthen Moldova’s PVR system by focusing on quality assurance, impartiality, independence testing and stakeholder collaboration. Key components include:

• Training sessions for AGEPI staff, testing commission members and partner institutions on quality audit principles, quality assurance systems, independence in testing, CPVO entrustment requirements and EU/UPOV best practices;
• Organising a study visit to an EU Member State for experience exchange on value for cultivation and use and distinctness, uniformity and stability testing methodologies, particularly for grapevine varieties, fruit trees, vegetable plants, energy crops, hemp and ornamental plants;
• Developing materials (e.g. internal guidelines) or practical tools to manage conflicts of interest and ensure impartial decision-making, with mentoring and procedural support to institutions integrating these safeguards;
• Stakeholder consultations with breeders, testing bodies and relevant authorities to raise awareness of upcoming system improvements and promote shared responsibility.