5.4 Plant and animal varieties, essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals 

See ISPE Guidelines 9.06. However, under the Agreement between the EPO and WIPO these fall within the EPO's discretion to exclude matter which would be excluded under Art. 53(b) EPC. Generally, no search or preliminary examination is carried out on such matter by the EPO as ISA/IPEA. Section GL/EPO G‑II, 5.4 and subsections, in the Guidelines for Examination in the EPO applies mutatis mutandis.