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Instructions for filing a Plant Breeders' Rights Application

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Generalities

The filing date of a Plant Breeders' Rights (PBR) application is when all items listed in the Filing Requirements section below are received in the PBR office. Facsimiles of the Plant Breeders' Rights Application for Filing Purposes form and other documents are acceptable provided original signed copies are submitted to the PBR office within 60 days of the filing date.

Please mail applications and other documents to:

Plant Breeders' Rights Office (PBRO)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
59 Camelot Drive
Ottawa, ON K1A 0Y9
Canada
E-mail: pbr.pov@inspection.gc.ca

Filing Requirements

  1. Completed "PBR Application for Filing Purposes" form
  2. Submissions requested in item 10 of the application form:
  3. Fees:
    • PBR Application Filing fee
    • Fee for claiming priority (where applicable)

Sections of the "PBR Application for Filing Purposes" Form

Applicant Information (Section 1): State the name as it should appear on the PBR grant of rights certificate. The applicant must be either the breeder or his/her employer, or the legal representative assigned by the breeder. Applicants residing outside of Canada must appoint an agent in Canada (see section 10H below for additional information on legal representative).

Agent Information (Section 2): The agent for PBR must be a Canadian resident and is required for all foreign applicants. An agent is optional for Canadian applicants. Please note that authorizing an agent makes the agent the main contact person for the PBR office and authorizes them to change the status of the PBR application. For example, the agent has the authority to withdraw a PBR application and surrender rights. If the applicant is a foreign applicant, then the PBR application must include an Authorization of Agent form signed by the applicant (see section 10G below).

Denomination Information (Variety Name) (Section 4): Provide a variety denomination at the time of filing the PBR application. It may be a temporary designation or experimental number. A final denomination should be submitted prior to publication of the variety description in the Plant Varieties Journal. If a variety has been protected, or if an application for protection has been filed, in another country, the variety denomination in Canada must be the same as the denomination in the other country(ies). If the variety is not protected in another country but is known or being marketed by a particular denomination in that country, that same denomination must be used if the variety is protected in Canada. The denomination or any part of the denomination must not be a trademark or similar indication in Canada. Please see the PBR Variety Naming Guidelines for more information

Breeder Information (Section 5): Indicate the breeder of the candidate variety. If the breeder is not the applicant, nor an employee of the applicant, then the PBR application must be supported by an assignment (evidence of legal representation) from the breeder to the applicant (see section 10H below).

Claiming Priority (Section 7): Priority may be claimed only when the PBR application has been accepted for filing in Canada within 12 months of the filing date of the first application made in a UPOV member country or agreement country. A fee for claiming priority must be submitted at the time of filing the PBR application in Canada. As well, a certified copy of the preceding application, certified by the appropriate authority and translated into either English or French, must be submitted within 3 months after the claim respecting priority has been filed with the PBR office.

Exemption from Compulsory Licensing (Section 9): An exemption from compulsory licensing will only be granted to allow the applicant sufficient time to multiply and distribute propagating material of the variety. It may be granted for up to two years from the date of grant of rights. A request for exemption from compulsory licensing must be made at the time of filing the PBR application.

Origin and Breeding History of the Variety (Section 10A): The information submitted under this item establishes the origin of the variety and provides a history of how the variety was derived. Where applicable, the following points should be included in the description of the origin and breeding history of the variety:

Statement of Uniformity and Stability (Section 10B): Provide a statement that the variety is uniform and stable. Include a description and the frequency of any off-types, variants or mutations. Variation may be regarded as part of the variety if it is predictable, capable of being described and commercially acceptable.

Distinctness Statement (Section 10C): Provide a brief summary of the characteristics which distinguish the candidate variety from all varieties of common knowledge at the time of filing the PBR application. For more details on choosing reference varieties please see the document, Guidelines for Conducting Plant Breeders' Rights Comparative Tests and Trials. Test results substantiating the distinctness statement are not required at the time of filing. The following items should be included in the distinctness statement:

Address and Method(s) for Maintaining the Variety (Section 10D): The holder of the right is responsible for ensuring that propagating material representative of the variety is maintained for the duration of the right. Provide a brief statement which includes the following:

Fees (Section 10E): All fees must be paid in Canadian funds. A Plant Breeders' Rights Fee Payment form is available for your convenience.

Sample of Propagating Material (Section 10F): Supply a viable seed sample of varieties that are reproduced by seed to the PBR office at the time of filing the PBR application. For seed sample sizes see Seed Sample Requirements. Vegetatively reproduced varieties are exempt from this requirement.

Authorization of an Agent (Section 10G): Please submit a separate form for each candidate variety. A generic form (Authorization of Agent) may be used for this purpose.

Evidence Establishing the Applicant as the Legal Representative (Section 10H): Include documentation (letters of administration or confirmation) to support the claim that the applicant is the legal representative of the breeder. The documentation should include: the name and address of the breeder of the variety; the common name of the plant species and the denomination of the plant variety; a letter of assignment signed by both the breeder and the assignee, each in the presence of a witness; and the effective date of the assignment. A generic form (Legal representative statement/assignment before the issue of Plant Breeders' Rights) may be used for this purpose. Please submit a separate form for each candidate variety.

Signature of Applicant(s) or Agent (Section 11): The "PBR Application for Filing Purposes" form must be signed and dated by the applicant, an agent, or a legal representative. In the case of a corporation, the capacity of the signing officer must be included (e.g. director).

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