New UK PBR fees

New fees for UK Plant Breeder’s Rights become effective on 1st September 2006. Full details can be found by clicking here (PDF file – Adobe Acrobat Reader required).

PFE would, in general, not normally recommend that a breeder takes out PBR/PVR for the UK alone, but should apply for EU rights (which PFE can do on the breeder’s behalf and in the breeder’s name). This recommendation is reinforced by the fact that, under the new fees in the UK and Europe, UK rights cost £1550 whereas EU rights, valid across all twenty-five member nations, cost only €2100 plus a €200 annual renewal fee (equivalent at today’s exchange rate: £1450 plus £140). Note: these are estimated figures based on a single cycle of DUS testing.

UK rights are really only useful where sales in other EU nations preclude an application for EU rights but where no sales have been made in the UK.