February deadline for Retained EU Plant Variety Rights in the UK

Following the UK’s exit from the European Union (EU), Retained EU Plant Variety Rights were awarded to provide continuing protection in the UK to plant varieties with EU Plant Variety rights. Since 1 January 2024, a UK correspondence address has been required for these rights.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have now contacted rights holders who have not already responded to earlier reminders of the need for a UK correspondence address, setting a deadline of 29 February 2024 for confirming that rights holders wish to retain their Retained EU Plant Variety Rights and provide a UK address for correspondence.  The full text of APHA’s letter is available here.

If the requested information is not provided by 29 February 2024, the Retained EU Plant Variety Rights may be terminated.

Boult Wade Tennant LLP are available to act as a UK agent and correspondence address for Retained EU Plant Variety Rights in the UK, as well as UK Plant Breeders Rights and National Listings. For more information please contact Matthew Ridley (mridley@boult.com) and Frances Baxter (fbaxter@boult.com) from our Plant Variety Rights team.