The EUIPO supports a study visit in France to strengthen plant variety rights procedures in Ukraine
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) supported a study visit for Ukrainian experts on plant variety rights procedures, held from 30 June to 2 July 2026 in Angers, France. The event was organised in cooperation with the Community Plant Variety Office and the Groupe d’étude et de contrôle des variétés et des semences (GEVES), in the context of the EU-funded EU4IP project.
The visit supported representatives from Ukraine in strengthening their technical and institutional capacity in the field of plant variety protection. Over five days, participants engaged in a structured programme combining presentations, knowledge sharing and field visits.
The programme focused on key aspects of the EU system, including legal and administrative procedures, quality audit and entrustment processes, as well as cooperation procedures for distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) testing. Participants also explored research and development approaches in DUS testing and examined quality assurance frameworks, such as ISO certification practices.
Hands-on learning was accompanied by field visits to GEVES facilities, where participants observed two test types in practice: DUS and value for cultivation and use. These sessions provided practical insight into the EU methodologies and technical standards applied in plant variety examination.
This visit strengthened Ukraine’s capacity to align its practices with EU standards and reinforced its institutional cooperation with EU bodies and examination offices. It also supported the broader objective of enhancing transparency, quality and reliability in plant variety protection systems. This visit reflects the EUIPO’s role as the premier implementing agency of IPR cooperation projects, facilitating knowledge transfer and supporting Ukraine’s integration into the EU IP ecosystem.
The activity is part of the EU-funded EU4IP project, which supports Ukraine in strengthening its intellectual property framework and advancing its integration into the EU IP system.