The representatives of the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), together with those of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the State Commission for Plant Variety Testing, participated from September 3 to 5, in a study visit to Poland. The event was organized under the auspices of the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument (TAIEX) of the European Commission, with the support of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations, with the aim of deepening knowledge in the field of plant variety protection and enforcement of breeders’ rights.

The visit was intended to facilitate the exchange of expertise between Poland and the Republic of Moldova regarding the European and Polish legislative framework related to the protection of plant varieties, their testing and their registration. The participants had the opportunity to better understand how Poland ensures the protection of plant varieties, the exceptions to breeders’ rights, the provisions on the agricultural exception, the use of protected seeds by farmers and the royalty collection systems. Practices and experiences in field crop testing were also discussed, with the aim of better aligning national practices with European standards.

The agenda of the visit included presentations by Polish specialists on topics such as the importance of plant variety protection in Poland, contributions to the development of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) and the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO), international cooperation in the assessment of requirements for patentability, respectively distinctiveness, uniformity and stability (DUS testing), enforcement of breeders’ rights and collection of royalties, etc.

In addition, the delegation visited the Molecular and Chemical Laboratory of the Research Center for Cultivar Testing (COBORU), the seed warehouse and the experimental fields of the Experimental Station for Cultivar Testing in Słupia Wielka and Zybiszów, where methods for testing and registration of plant varieties were studied, including in organic farming. The visit ended with an examination of experimental fields with horticultural plants in Zybiszów, giving participants a practical insight into the application and compliance with European standards in the protection of plant varieties.

This experience strengthened the cooperation between Poland and the Republic of Moldova, contributing to the development of national capacities in the field of plant variety protection.