The Application Procedure for Taiwanese Butterfly Orchids to Obtain Plant Variety Rights in the European Union can be Simplified, Saving Time and Money

European Union Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) President Bart Kiewiet visited Taiwan from March 1 through 7 at the invitation of the Council of Agriculture. CPVO President Kiewiet is the highest European Union official in charge of policies regarding the protection of plant varieties. Kiewiet and the COA on March 4 held negotiations about the butterfly orchid varieties’ mutual recognition report, and about the expansion of the reach of cooperation on protecting variety rights. Both sides reached a consensus on reducing overlap in the work of determining varieties, saving time and cost for the application procedure. As a result, Taiwan’s butterfly orchids can expect more rapid protection in the European market, while significantly reducing the cost of application and raising the competitiveness of Taiwan’s butterfly orchid growers.

The COA says that while the reputation of Taiwan’s butterfly orchid growing has spread internationally, simultaneously the number of cases damaging Taiwanese butterfly orchid variety rights have not remained absent. Because each country in the world protects local plant variety rights without checking up on varieties overseas, the application for variety rights by butterfly orchid roots exporting countries like Taiwan is particularly important in the European Union. Beginning in March 2007, our growers have been able to apply for plant variety rights valid for all 27 EU member nations. This breakthrough allowed orchid growers from Taiwan and from the European Union to form strategic production and sales alliances, boosting bilateral trade. Over the past two years, Taiwan applied in the European Union for the protection of 50 new varieties of butterfly orchids, turning into the main applicant from outside the Union. The value of Taiwanese butterfly orchids exported to the European Union in 2008 exceeded NT$300 million, or three times the export value for 2005.

The COA adds that even though Taiwan can now apply for the protection of plant variety rights in the European Union, and the potential profits are not negligible, many domestic butterfly orchid growers still limit themselves to applying for domestic rights only, remaining hesitant about applying in Europe. One of the main reasons is that the application process lasts more than two years, with the cost of each separate application reaching NT$100,000, strongly affecting the willingness of the growers to apply. In order to solve this problem, the COA has been actively cooperating with the CPVO, hoping to establish a rapid and cost-saving protection system for the varieties of butterfly orchid with a short commercial lifespan. After Taiwan and the European Union start using variety specification reports issued by both sides, simultaneous applicants for variety rights in Taiwan and the European Union can save more than one year, while per variety a saving of about NT$25,000 in the cost of application is possible.

CPVO President Kiewiet also visited butterfly orchid growers during his stay in Taiwan to learn and understand their concerns. He held speeches at the COA on March 3 and at the International Orchid Exhibition in Tainan County on March 7 on the topic of “International Cooperation under the European Union Plant Variety Protection Framework.” He exchanged views with Taiwan’s butterfly orchid growers, officials and experts about strengthening mutual cooperation.