Annual EPO-CPVO workshop
Bilateral co-operation between the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) is essential for the protection of plant-related innovations.
The EPO and CPVO held their annual technical workshop on 18 June 2025. In alignment with the EPO’s Strategic Plan 2028, the partnership between the CPVO and the EPO underscores the shared commitment of both institutions to foster innovation and legal certainty in the field of plant protection.
Since the offices renewed their long-standing co-operation agreement in 2022, four joint workshops have been held online, providing a valuable platform for constructive dialogue and mutual learning. The latest workshop proved particularly timely and relevant in light of ongoing negotiations at the EU level concerning the regulation of plants obtained by new genomic techniques (NGTs). The focus of these negotiations is on the release of plants obtained by mutagenesis on the market and the patentability of these plants.
A coherent and transparent legal framework for plant innovation in Europe
The CPVO and EPO aim to support a coherent and transparent legal framework for plant innovation in Europe that ensures legal certainty for all stakeholders. The coexistence of patent rights and plant variety rights protects plant innovations effectively and enables collaboration through open licensing agreements, helping to foster further innovation, competitiveness and growth in the field. The co-operation between the offices enhances the efficiency of both organisations as well as contributing to an informed and balanced policy debate on the future of plant-related intellectual property rights.
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