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

Target Country: Ukraine
IPR area: Plant variety rights

Effective protection of plant variety rights (PVR) is vital to stimulate innovation, enhance seed quality and ensure fair competition in the agricultural sector. Ukraine already operates one of the more developed PVR systems in the region, but technical harmonisation and closer cooperation with EU counterparts remain essential to ensure full interoperability.

The principal legal act, the Law of Ukraine on the Protection of Plant Variety Rights (No 3116 of 21 April 1993, consolidated 31 December 2023), has undergone several amendments to strengthen alignment with EU and UPOV 1991 standards. Ukraine maintains a broad testing infrastructure with regional stations, digital application tools and active participation in UPOV. Nevertheless, refinement of distinctness, uniformity and stability testing practices and more systematic use of EU technical examination reports could further enhance quality and efficiency.

This activity also responds to the need for improved enforcement of breeders’ rights and cooperation with customs and agricultural authorities to prevent the circulation of unauthorised propagating material.