Register mini or pot vegetables and edible ornamentals

Publicationdate: 20 september 2024

Varieties that are edible and that are traded or sold as pot vegetables or ornamental products should be registered (admitted) as vegetables in the EU common catalogue.

Only if the variety is unsuitable for consumption registration is unnecessarily. This is based on EC Directive 2002/55 article 2.1.b in which the definition of vegetable varieties requiring registration is given. If the plants and/or fruits are edible, they are given a horticultural destination.

Crops not listed in the EC Directive are not subject to registration, regardless of their use for vegetable or ornamental purposes. Therefore, for example, ornamental peppers belonging to Capsicum frutescens L. and not Capsicum annuum L. do not have to be registered, even if they are edible.

Do you want to trade material of the variety within the European Union?

Then apply for admission in one of the EU member states. By doing so, you will comply with European regulations. This prevents legal problems when trading the material. Registered varieties can be traded without restrictions within the EU, thus increasing the scope of the marketing.

In addition, do you want to protect the material of your variety from unauthorized use by third parties?

Then also apply for plant breeders' rights. Then your variety is protected and you have legal support in conflicts about the ownership of the variety. The holder of the plant variety right determines who may trade or grow material of the variety.

Questions?

You can find more information about registration or plant variety rights in the Netherlands on the website of the Board for Plant Varieties.

Or contact the Board for Plant Varieties.

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