Sources from the Ministry of Agriculture show that China has made great progress in new plant variety protection in recent years with the number of IPR applications for new plants varieties increasing dramatically. By the end of last year, the number reaches 4,695, with 1,417 being granted. A total of 810 applications are made in 2007.

The new plant variety means a cultivated plant variety, or a developed one based on a discovered wild plant, which is new, distinct, uniform and stable, and whose denomination is adequately designated. One new plant variety can only be granted only one variety right.

Ma Shuping, Deputy Director of Planting Management Department under Ministry of Agriculture says at the promotion conference of the 2008 China Seed Expo recently that in order to encourage enterprises to research and develop new plant varieties, China starts protection work for new plants varieties since 1997. Currently, the number of China’s annual applications for plant variety rights leaps to No.4 at the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).

According to her, China is the world second largest seed market and uses 12.5 billion kg of seeds every year, with potential market value exceeding 80 billion yuan. Since 2005, China has totally imported 50,000-odd tons of seeds with value exceeding $600 million. The imports of seeds of vegetables, flowers and grass increase at comparatively higher rates. During the three years from 2005 to 2007, China’s seeds exports hit 18,000 tons, 26,000 tons and 29,000 tons respectively with combined export volume exceeding $100 million.