Legislative Texts
PLANT PROTECTION ORDINANCE
Chapter 490
Long title
An Ordinance to provide for the protection of plant varieties.
[24 October 1997] L.N. 492 of 1997
(Originally 21 of 1996)
PART 1
�PRELIMINARY
�
Section 1
�Short title
� - (1)
- This Ordinance may be cited as the Plant Varieties Protection Ordinance.
- (2)
- (Omitted as spent)
Section 2
�Interpretation
�
Remarks:
Amendments retroactively made-see 25 of 1998 s. 2 In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires“applicant”, in relation to any application, means the person by whom or on whose behalf that
application is made; “application” means - (a)
- an application for a grant; and
� - (b)
- an application for a declaration under section 31(1)(b) ;
�“court” means the Court of First Instance; (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)
�“denomination”, in relation to any protected variety, or any variety that was a protected
�
variety until the grant made in respect of it expired, means the distinguishing name or identification approved for that variety by the Registrar under section 18(2)(a) ; “grant” means a grant of plant variety rights under this Ordinance; “grantee” means the holder of a grant and, in relation to a protected variety, means the holder of a grant in respect of that variety; “owner”, in relation to any variety, means
(a) a person who bred or discovered and developed that variety;
Legislative Texts - (b)
- an agent of that person;
- (c)
- a successor to that person;
�“plant” means - (a)
- any multi cellular vascular organism with a root system;
� - (b)
- any algae;
� - (c)
- any fungi;
�“prescribed” means prescribed or provided for by regulations made under section 42 ;
�“protected variety” means a variety in respect of which a grant is in force;
�“publication” means public notification, and includes public notification in the Gazette;
�“register” means the Register of Plant Variety Rights maintained under section 8(1) ;
�“Registrar” means the Registrar of Plant Variety Rights;
�“reproductive material”, in relation to any variety, means any portion of a plant of that variety
�
by means of which plants of that variety may be reproduced or propagated; and means spores and seeds;
sale” includes any disposition for valuable consideration and any offer for sale, and “sell” and “sold” have corresponding meanings;
“term” means the period that a grant is in force under section 22 ;
“UPOV country” means a country that is a member State of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, constituted pursuant to the international agreement called the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants;
“variety” means a cultivar of a plant to which this Ordinance, by virtue of section 4 and the Schedule, applies, and means any clone, hybrid, stock, or line, of such a plant, but does not mean a botanical variety of such a plant.
Section 3
�Binding effect of Ordinance
�
This Ordinance binds the Government.
Section 4
�Application
� - (1)
- This Ordinance applies to the plants listed in the Schedule.
- (2)
- The Secretary for Economic Services may, by notice in the Gazette, amend the Schedule.
PART II
�REGISTRAR OF PLANT VARIETY RIGHTS AND REGISTER
�
Section 5
�Registrar of Plant Variety Rights
�
Legislative Texts - (1)
- The Director of Agriculture and Fisheries shall be the Registrar of Plant Variety Rights for the purposes of this Ordinance.
- (2)
- The Registrar may authorize in writing any public officer to perform or exercise all or any of the functions which are imposed or conferred on him by this Ordinance.
Section 6
�Appeals against decisions of the Registrar
�
Except as otherwise prescribed, an appeal lies to the court, to the extent and in the manner provided in Part IV , against any decision of the Registrar made under this Ordinance.
Section 7
�Registrar not liable in respect of official acts
� - (1)
- The Registrar shall not be taken to warrant the correctness or validity of the registration of a plant variety right under this Ordinance or under any international agreement, or convention, which has been applied to Hong Kong.
- (2)
- The Registrar is not subject to any liability by reason only of the fact of any examination required or authorized by this Ordinance, or any such international agreement or convention, or any report or other proceedings consequent on such examination.
- (3)
- No proceedings lie against any public officer authorized by the Registrar under section 5(2) in respect of any matter for which, by virtue of this section, the Registrar is not liable.
Section 8
�Register to be maintained
� - (1)
- The Registrar shall maintain a register called the Register of Plant Variety Rights.
- (2)
- There shall be entered in the register
- (a) �
- notice of every decision of the Registrar to make or decline to make a grant of a plant variety right;
- (b) �
- such particulars as may be required to be entered by this Ordinance or as may be prescribed; and
- (c) �
- any other matters and information relating to plant varieties or plant variety rights whose entry in the register appears to the Registrar to be important or useful.
(3) The register need not be kept in documentary form but shall be kept in such manner as may be prescribed by manual, mechanical, electronic, optical or other means, and provision shall in particular be prescribed for - (a) �
- public inspection of the register;
- (b) �
- the supply of certified or uncertified copies, or extracts, of entries in the register; and
- (c) �
- publication in each year of any matter or information entered in the register, including information as and relating to plant varieties for which a grant has been made and which remains in force for that year.
Legislative Texts
Section 9
�Rectification of the register
� - (1)
- Any person having a sufficient interest may apply to the Registrar for the rectification of an error or omission in the register.
- (2)
- Except where the Registrar directs otherwise, the effect of rectification of the register is that the error or omission in question shall be deemed never to have been made.
- (3)
- The Registrar may, on request made in the prescribed manner by the grantee of a registered plant variety right, enter any change in his name or address as recorded in the register.
- (4)
- The Registrar may remove from the register matter appearing to him to have ceased to have effect.
Section 10
�Registration to be prima facie evidence of validity
�
In any proceedings before the court relating to a registered plant variety right, the registration of a person as grantee of a plant variety right shall be prima facie evidence of the validity of the original registration and of any subsequent assignment or other transmission of it.
Section 11
�Certificate of validity of contested registration
�
(1) If in proceedings before the court the validity of the registration of a plant variety right is contested and it is found by the court that the plant variety right is validly registered, the court may give a certificate to that effect. - (2)
- If the court gives such a certificate and in subsequent proceedings
- (a) �
- the validity of the registration is again questioned; and
- (b) �
- the grantee obtains a final order or judgment in his favor, he is entitled to his costs as between solicitor and client unless the court directs otherwise.
- (3)
- Subsection (2) does not extend to the costs of an appeal in any such proceedings.
Section 12
�Burden of proving use of plant variety right
�
If in any proceedings before the court to which a grantee or a person authorized by license or otherwise under section 25(1) is a party of a question arises as to the use to which a registered plant variety right has been put, it is for the grantee or that person to show what use has been made of it.
PART III
�GRANT OF PLANT VARIETY RIGHTS
�
Section 13
�Application for grant
�
Legislative Texts
(1) Every application shall be in such manner and form as the Registrar may require and
� shall |
(a) | be accompanied by the quantity of reproductive material, if any, prescribed in respect of varieties of the kind concerned; |
(b) | be completed and signed by or on behalf of the applicant; |
(c) | nominate an address for service in relation to that application, being an address within Hong Kong; and |
(d) | be accompanied by the prescribed application fee. |
- (2)
- Within the prescribed period after making an application, the applicant shall give to the Registrar
- (a) �
- in such detail as the Registrar requires, a description of
- (i) �
- the origin and breeding of the variety concerned;
- (ii) �
- the botanical features of that variety; and
(iii) �those aspects of that variety that, in the opinion of that applicant, distinguish it from those other varieties whose existence was a matter of common knowledge at the time of that application; and
- (b) �
- the proposed denomination for that variety.
- (3)
- Within the prescribed period after being requested by the Registrar to do so, the applicant shall furnish the Registrar with
- (a) �
- such further reproductive material of the variety concerned as the Registrar may specify;
- (b) �
- any other information that the Registrar thinks relevant and requests from that applicant.
- (4)
- An application that complies with subsection (1) at the time it is received at the office of the Registrar shall, for the purposes of this Ordinance, be deemed to be made at that time.
- (5)
- An application that does not comply with subsection (1) at the time it is received at the office of the Registrar shall, for the purposes of this Ordinance, be deemed to be made at the time at which it first complies with that subsection while being held at that office.
- (6)
- If satisfied that an application complies with subsection (1) the Registrar shall
- (a) �
- notify in the Gazette the making of that application; and
- (b) �
- advise the applicant accordingly.
- (7)
- The Registrar shall notify in the Gazette every proposed denomination for a variety given to the Registrar by any applicant that, in the opinion of the Registrar, complies with the prescribed requirements.
- (8)
- For the purposes of subsection (2)(a)(iii) and section 18(4)(b) , common knowledge of a variety is established if that variety is a variety
- (a) �
- in respect of which a grant or an application has been made under this Ordinance;
- (b) �
- in respect of which in a UPOV country an equivalent grant or equivalent application has been made;
- (c) �
- which has been precisely described in any publication;
Legislative Texts - (d)
- which appears or has been included in a reference collection; or
- (e)
- which has been cultivated or marketed for a period exceeding the prescribed period.
Section 14
�Objections before grant
� - (1)
- Any person who considers that the Registrar should not approve a proposed denomination notified in the Gazette may, within 3 months of its notification in the Gazette under section 13(6)(a) , by notice in writing to the Registrar, object to the approval of that denomination.
- (2)
- Any person who considers that an application has been made by or on behalf of an applicant who is not an owner of the variety concerned may, at any time before a grant is made to the applicant in respect of that variety, by notice in writing to the Registrar, object to the making of a grant in respect of that variety to the applicant.
- (3)
- Any person who considers that an application has been made in respect of a variety that is not new, distinct, stable, and homogeneous, as required by section 18(2)(d) may, at any time before a grant is made in respect of that variety, by notice in writing to the Registrar, object to the making of a grant in respect of that variety.
- (4)
- If an objection is made under this section, the Registrar shall not make a grant in respect of the variety concerned before giving the applicant concerned and the objector a reasonable opportunity to be heard.
Section 15
�Withdrawal or lapse of applications
� - (1)
- Any application may be withdrawn by the applicant at any time before a grant is made in respect of it.
- (2)
- The withdrawal of an application shall not affect the liability of the application for any fees that may have become payable up to the date of that withdrawal.
(3) If any information or material required to be given to the Registrar under section 13(2) or
- (3)
- is not supplied within the prescribed period, the application concerned shall lapse upon the expiration of that period.
Section 16
�Inspection of applications
�
After an application is made, the Registrar shall hold it and any document or instrument accompanying it or supplied subsequently pursuant to section 13(2) or (3) , or a copy of that document or instrument, certified by the Registrar to be a true copy, available for public inspection during ordinary business hours of the office of the Registrar.
Section 17
�Provisional protection
�
(1) Subject to subsection (2) , on and after the day on which an application is made, the applicant shall have the same rights to take proceedings under this Ordinance as if on that day a grant had been made to the applicant in respect of the variety concerned.
Legislative Texts
(2) The rights conferred by subsection (1) shall be treated as never having been conferred if the - (a) �
- application concerned is withdrawn or lapses; or
- (b) �
- Registrar declines to make a grant in respect of that application.
Section 18
�Making of grants
� - (1)
- The Registrar shall
- (a) �
- subject to section 19 , make a grant in respect of every application that is eligible for the making of a grant; and
- (b) �
- decline to make a grant in respect of every application that is not eligible for the making of a grant.
- (2)
- An application shall be treated as being eligible for the making of a grant if, and only if, the applicant has given the Registrar all reproductive material of the variety concerned requested by the Registrar, and the Registrar
- (a) �
- has approved for that variety a denomination proposed by the applicant;
- (b) �
- is satisfied that that applicant is an owner of that variety;
- (c) �
- has received the prescribed fee; and
- (d) �
- is satisfied that that variety is new, distinct, stable, and homogeneous.
- (3)
- The Registrar shall approve a proposed denomination for a variety if, and only if, in the opinion of the Registrar, it complies with the prescribed requirements.
- (4)
- For the purposes of subsection (2)(d)
- (a) �
- subject to subsection (6) , a variety is new if there has been no sale of that variety with the agreement of any relevant owner of that variety
- (i) �
- in Hong Kong, for more than 12 months before the date on which that application was made; and
- (ii) �
- outside Hong Kong, for more than 6 years before that date in the case of trees or vines, or for more than 4 years before that date in every other case;
- (b) �
- a variety is distinct if it is clearly distinguishable from any other variety whose existence was a matter of common knowledge when the application concerned was made;
- (c) �
- a variety is stable if, in its relevant characteristics, it remains true to its description
- (i) �
- where the applicant concerned has described particular cycles of propagation or reproduction for that variety, at the end of each such cycle; and
- (ii) �
- in every other case, after repeated propagation or reproduction;
- (d) �
- a variety is homogeneous if all of its plants carry, exhibit or show the same expression of that variety’s relevant characteristics, subject to any variation which may be expected having regard to any particular feature of its propagation or reproduction.
Legislative Texts - (5)
- In determining, for the purposes of subsection (2)(d) , whether or not the Registrar is satisfied that a variety is homogeneous, the Registrar shall have regard to the particular features of its propagation or reproduction, whichever is applicable to it.
- (6)
- Where, to increase the stock of a variety or for tests of a variety, its owner makes arrangements under which
- (a) �
- reproductive material of that variety is to be sold to or used by some other person;
- (b) �
- any unused portion of that reproductive material, and all the material of any sort produced from that reproductive material, is
- (i) �
- to be sold to that owner, by that other person; or
- (ii) �
- otherwise to become the property of that owner,
then for the purposes of subsection (4)(a) , no account shall be taken of any sale under that arrangement of - (i)
- reproductive material of that variety by that owner to that other person; or
- (ii)
- material of any sort of that variety by that other person to that owner.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (2)(d) , a variety does not cease to be new by virtue only of the sale at any time of - (a) �
- material that is not reproductive material; or
- (b) �
- reproductive material disposed of for purposes other than reproduction,
that, having been produced during the breeding, increase of stock, tests, or trials, of that variety, is not or no longer required for any of those activities. - (8)
- For the purposes of subsection (4)(b) , the characteristics by which a variety may be distinguished from others may be morphological, physiological, or of any other kind or description, so long as those characteristics are capable of precise description and recognition.
- (9)
- It shall be a condition of a grant made to any person in respect of a variety that the grantee shall
- (a) �
- pay such annual grant fee; and
- (b) �
- maintain such stock of reproductive material, in relation to that variety as may be prescribed.
Section 19 Varieties bred or discovered and developed by 2 or more persons independently
Subject to section 20 , where - (a) �
- before a grant is made in respect of a variety, 2 or more applications in respect of that variety have been made;
- (b) �
- the Registrar is satisfied that the 2 or more applicants concerned are persons who, or successors of persons who, bred or discovered and developed that variety independently; and
- (c) �
- the Registrar is satisfied that, but for this section, each of those 2 or more applicants is or would be entitled to a grant in respect of that variety,
Legislative Texts
the Registrar shall make a grant to that 1 of those 2 or more applicants whose application in respect of that variety was made first.
Section 20
�Priority resulting from earlier applications
�
Where - (a) �
- any person makes an application for a grant in Hong Kong in respect of a variety in respect of which that person has earlier in a UPOV country made an equivalent application under the law of that country that has been accepted; and
- (b) �
- that application for a grant in Hong Kong is made not more than 12 months after that equivalent application or, if more than 1 equivalent application has been made, whether in 1 or in several countries, the earliest of them, was made; and
- (c) �
- a claim for priority in relation to that equivalent application accompanies the application for a grant in Hong Kong; and
- (d) �
- within 3 months of the making of that application for a grant in Hong Kong, a copy of any documents constituting that equivalent application, certified as correct by the authority to which it was made, is submitted to the Registrar,
sections 18(4)(b) and 19 shall apply to that application for a grant in Hong Kong as if it had been made when that equivalent application was accepted.