The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) presents his compliments to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and has the honor to notify the receipt, on January 16, 2025, of a communication from the Government of the Portuguese Republic dated January 15, 2025, relating to the acquisition of the status of International Depositary Authority (IDA) by the Micoteca da Universidade do Minho (MUM), which states that this depositary institution is located on the territory of Portugal and includes a Declaration of Assurances to the effect that the Institution complies and will continue to comply with the requirements concerning the acquisition of the status of IDA specified in Article 6(2) of the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure done at Budapest on April 28, 1977, and amended on September 26, 1980 ("Budapest Treaty").
Pursuant to Article 7(2)(b) of the Budapest Treaty, the MUM shall acquire the status of IDA under the Budapest Treaty on February 20, 2025, that is, on the date of publication of the communication by the International Bureau.
February 20, 2025
Text of the Communication by the Government of the Portuguese Republic Relating to the Acquisition of the Status of International Depositary Authority by the Micoteca da Universidade do Minho (MUM)
[Original: English]
COMMUNICATION:
The Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva presents its compliments to the Secretariat of the World Intellectual Property Organization and has the honour to request the recognition of the Micoteca da Universidade do Minho (University of Minho's Mycotheque), hereinafter referred as MUM, as a depository and filing authority of Microorganisms for Patent Procedure Purposes, under the Budapest Treaty, adopted in April 28, 1977, to which Portugal is a Contracting Party, since October 16, 1997.
MUM has a long-standing reputation for excellence in the collection, preservation, and distribution of biological material and associated information, and complies and will continue to comply with the requirements specified in Article 6(2) of the Budapest Treaty.
Therefore, the Government of Portugal notifies the following name and address of this Competent Authority for all purposes under the Budapest Treaty:
Micoteca da Universidade do Minho – MUM
Centre of Biological Engineering
University of Minho
Campus de Gualtar
4710-057 Braga
Portugal
Tel: +351 351 253 601959; +351 253 604403
Email IDA: ida.micoteca@deb.uminho.pt
Furthermore, the Government of Portugal submits the following enclosed documents describing the related capacities of MUM.
ANNEX I
In accordance with the request for the recognition of MUM as an International Depositary Authority under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure, we hereby provide the information envisaging compliance with what is required with specific Articles and Rules of the Treaty:
1. Name and address of the depositary institution [Rule 3-3.1(b)(i)]:
Micoteca da Universidade do Minho - MUM
Centre of Biological Engineering
University of Minho
Campus de Gualtar
4710-057 Braga
Portugal
Tel.: +351 253 601959
Tel: +351 253 604403
E-mail IDA: ida.micoteca@deb.uminho.pt
2. Capacity of MUM to comply with the requirements specified in Article 6(2) of the Treaty [Rule 3-3.1(b)(ii)]
- Art. 6(2)(i) have a continuous existence
The Micoteca da Universidade do Minho was proposed and established in 1996 by Prof. Nelson Lima. MUM was created as a transversal project by the Rector of the University of Minho and, since then, it has been hosted by the Centre of Biological Engineering. The aim was to preserve and supply microbiological materials to life sciences, biotechnology, and other users' communities, including food and health domains. MUM is highly specialized in filamentous fungi identification and characterisation, food mycology, including mycotoxin analyses, water fungal biofilm, biodegradation and bioremediation, and, more recently, clinical mycology research. Based on its cutting-edge technologies MUM provides research and services in other fields of microbiology. MUM is a member of the WFCC (World Federation of Culture Collections), registered in the World Data Center of Microorganisms under the number 816, and a member of ECCO (European Culture Collections Organization). Currently, MUM coordinates the Portuguese Node MIRRI-PT by appointment of the Portuguese governmental order 4958/2020, published in the official journal from 24 April 2nd Serie, nº 81, Part C, p. 40. As a consequence, MUM is a member of the National Coordinators Forum of MIRRI-ERIC (Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure-European Research Infrastructure Consortium, www.mirri.org). Furthermore, MUM was involved in establishing the MIRRI-ERIC statutory seat in Portugal, more precisely, at the University of Minho.
Funding for MUM is provided mainly by the University of Minho, a Portuguese public university, and reinforced by public funds from the research centre – CEB/Biological Engineering Centre, which hosts MUM, and also by revenues from a whole range of services such as distribution, deposit, isolation, identification, characterisation of strains, training, tests in biodeterioration and biodegradation, resistance and biological activity, and other types of tailored contract and consultancy research. National, European, and International research projects are also an important asset for MUM's financial capability. Over the past 28 years, MUM has demonstrated its uninterrupted proficiencies and is at the forefront of the state-of-the-art of long-term ex-situ microbial preservation.
- Art. 6(2)(ii) have the necessary staff and facilities, as prescribed in the Regulations, to perform its scientific and administrative tasks under this Treaty
The MUM possesses all the necessary features to ensure an adequate, professional response to the Budapest Treaty's requirements regarding scientific, technical, and administrative capacity.
The MUM currently employs one Head of the Collection (Prof Nelson Lima), a Curator (Dr. Célia Soares), and one Technician (Mr. Manuel Silva) attached part-time to the collection. Prof. Nelson Lima and Dr. Célia Soares will be the only ones responsible for managing the IDA and their CVs are attached.
The facilities of the MUM collection are integrated in Biological Engineering Centre facilities, in in building no. 5 in the Campus of Gualtar of the University of Minho, including laboratories and stockrooms (0.30, 0.31, 0.35, 0.40, 0.41, and 0.44) - https://www.ceb.uminho.pt/About/Facilities. MUM facilities comprise a total surface area of about 180 m2 and include locked premises for the storage of samples: freeze-dried ampoules, water, and mineral oil preservation, and deep-freeze vials (-80 ºC). Only authorized staff (the Director and the Curator) have access to the strains kept at MUM.
The infrastructure of MUM corresponding to 0.40 (42 m2) includes:
• A laboratory suitable for reception, isolation, and preparation of the microorganisms for the preservation process. It also includes an area for the microorganism's manipulation with a vertical laminar flow cabinet with a germicidal UV lamp, an autoclave, an optical microscopy with a digital camera and one stereoscopic microscope for taxonomy and identification of microorganisms.
• Area for the biological material freeze-drying with one 96 spin-freezer with a secondary drying manifold and one freeze-dryer with stoppering shelf units for vials and a manifold for glass ampoules. A -80 ºC mini deep-freezer is dedicated to supporting the lyophilisation process as well as all necessary torch accessories to constrict and seal the glass ampoules. For sealing the rubber stoppers of the lyophilised vials with aluminium caps hand crimpers are available.
A dedicated room (0.31, 7 m2) with an air conditioner for temperature control with metal-plastic shelves with drawers for the storage of freeze-dried ampoules and water vials preservation, which is used exclusively used with this purpose. A dedicated room (0.44, 19 m2) with an air conditioner for temperature control for the storage of deep-freezer vials at -80 ºC in a deep-freezer with a liquid nitrogenous backup to support any equipment failure, a smartfreezer for automated cryopreservation at -180 ºC with access control, and a liquid nitrogenous generator coupled to the freezers which are used exclusively for cryogenic preservation.
The laboratory 0.35 (65 m2) contains the basic equipment for research in microbiology, which includes a vertical laminar flow cabinet with germicidal UV lamp, autoclave, -20 ºC deep-freezer, refrigerator, centrifuges, incubators and shakers, molecular biology platform (Sanger SeqStudio, Nanopore, and the Illumina MiSeqDX sequencers, PCR and RT-PCR-QuantStudio5, TapeSation4200, 2 DNA/RNA UV-cleaner boxes, and the image acquisition iBright750 equipment) and the MALDI-TOF MS equipment for microbial identification and characterisation. Additionally, an uPLC MS/MS is available in the liquid chromatography laboratory (0.56) and a photograph station is available in the image laboratory (0.57).
The laboratory 0.41 (32 m2) is dedicated to food analyses, including mycotoxins, where the main equipment is vertical laminar flow cabinet with germicidal UV lamp, gas extraction fume hoods, refrigerator, -20 ºC deep-freezer, and HPLC.
The warehouse (0.30, 12 m2) storages the disposable and other chemical consumables for the MUM operation and its associated services.
From a legal status point of view, since 2023, MUM has become an Institutional Transversal Project that reinforces all operational organisation on the direct dependence on the University of Minho Rectorate (Deliberation of the UMinho Management Board n°. 21/2023).
The international scientific standing of MUM is characterised by being very active in relevant organisations and initiatives, such as being a Collections Officer (1 term), Secretary (2 consecutive terms), President (2 consecutive terms) of the ECCO, and Board Member (1 term and, later on, 2 consecutive terms) of WFCC. MUM was responsible for establishing the Portuguese Node of GBIF and belonged to different working groups of OECD (BRC task force), FAO-Commission on Genetic Resources (collaboration for the report of the State of World's Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture), and in EU, such as in the Bioeconomy Forum. MUM has participated in several European Projects, such as EMbaRC, MIRRI, RItrain, IS_MIRRI21. Currently, MUM-UMinho is partner of the EU project CanSERV, iSIDORE, Microbes-4-Climate and MALDIBANK, and in Brazilian projects, such as the ongoing ones "INCT Project - Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources in Network Collection - INCT CERBC406645/2022-1 and also the project 443861/2023-4/CNPq for International Cooperation in the Bioprospection of species of Biotechnological interest and of Biodiversity of endemic disease agents within the scope of Microbial Collections.
MUM trained researchers and post-graduate students from different parts of the world, such as Argentina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Spain, Tunisia, Vietnam, etc. MUM has also an important portfolio on organising advanced courses in Portugal and overseas, as well as organising scientific congresses related to microbial culture collections, such as ECCO XXII (2003, Braga), ECCO XXXI (Braga, 2012), ICCC'15 (Braga, 2023). MUM published several scientific papers, proceedings, conference abstracts, book chapters, and books that are listed at Google Scholar "Micoteca da Universidade do Minho (MUM)"[1]. MUM is also a publisher with its own ISBN 978-972-97916-x-x; over the years it has published 6 books. MUM's Director has been Invited Professor at different Brazilian Universities, at Milan-Bicocca University in Italy and Universidade de La Frontera in Chile. In 2016, he was granted with "Professor Honoris Causa" title by the University Federal of Pernambuco (UFPE, Recife, Brazil), he was responsible for hosting the MIRRI-ERIC statutory seat in Portugal (UMinho) and, recently, a new fungal species was named in recognition of his contribution to the mycology field with Penicillium limae.
The current MUM's holdings in the e-catalogue comprise about 1300 strains (1180 filamentous fungi, 100 yeasts, 20 bacteria, 3 algae). The annual growth rate of the collection varies between 5 to 10%.
The MUM has been certified, Registration Number: PT-2011/CEP.3911 (to check use the IQNET Database of Certified Organisations at https://database.iqnet-certification.com/), according to the ISO9001 Standard continuously since 2011 and is audited every year by an independent certification body (Conformity Assessment Body under the international quality infrastructure). Currently, the scope of the MUM Certification is "Deposit, preservation, and supply of strains of fungi and bacteria. Provision of consulting and training services in the field of biobanking". The Vision of MUM is "A world in which fungal diversity is preserved and available for all" and its Mission is defined as "To be a resource center for fungal biodiversity preservation and information, and create solutions for sustainable development and human well-being".
- Art. 6(2)(iii) MUM will be impartial and objective and Art.6(2)(iv) available, for the purposes of deposit, to any depositor under the same conditions
The MUM is committed to being impartial and objective under the Budapest Treaty and will be available to all depositors under the same conditions.
To ensure impartiality, MUM takes the following actions: (1) provides regular training to raise awareness of the personnel regarding impartiality; (2) defines clear procedures and criteria to ensure objectivity and independence; and (3) identifies potential conflicts of interest to be able to manage them. All members of the MUM staff are bound to impartiality through a declaration of impartiality in addition to the ordinary and compulsory "Confidentiality Declaration" (F0.51) to be workers in MUM.
- Art. 6(2)(v) Accept for deposit any or certain kinds of microorganisms, examine their viability and store them, as prescribed in the Regulations
All the deposits related to a patent made with MUM will undergo suitable treatment, based on documented procedures, to ensure their viability and purity (when applied). Whatever the method used to prepare sample lots for deposit and distribution, the MUM will maintain a part of the original material submitted by the depositor.
Thus, all strains deposited under the Budapest Treaty will be preserved, where possible, both by cryogenic conservation (in liquid nitrogen or a freezer at -80 °C) and by freeze-drying.
To avoid any loss of strains, security measures are provided:
a) Strains are preserved in locked containers, freezers, and drawers, themselves in locked premises;
b) A duplicate of each strain is preserved in a different place;
c) The data relating to the deposited strains are recorded in standard forms which are stored in computer files with restricted access; the computer is protected from unauthorized access and has regular backups.
- Art. 6(2)(vi) Issue a receipt to the depositor, and any required viability statement, as prescribed in the Regulations
MUM, under Rule 10, will issue depositors a receipt and a viability statement for each strain accepted under the Treaty.
- Art. 6(2)(vii) Comply, in respect of the deposited microorganisms, with the requirement of secrecy, as prescribed in the Regulations
MUM will not supply subsamples and/or information on the deposited strains to third parties, except for depositors and parties referred to in Rule 11 of the Treaty.
- Art.6(2)(viii) Furnish samples of any deposited microorganism under the conditions and in conformity with the procedure prescribed in the Regulations
MUM will only furnish samples of any deposited microorganisms to the interested industrial property offices, to the depositor or the authorized party, on his request, and to parties legally entitled as referred to in Rule 11 of the Treaty.
3. Types of Microorganisms Accepted for Deposit by MUM [Rule 3-3.1(b)(iii)]
MUM may receive long-term deposit microorganisms for agricultural and forestry, environmental, and industrial process use and impact. More specifically, MUM will accept for deposit fungi (molds or filamentous fungi, yeasts, and higher fungi), archaea, bacteria (including actinomycetes), and microorganisms that contain plasmids; those that can be preserved, without any alteration to their properties, through sub-culture and storage in cryopreservation and lyophilization.
MUM will accept pathogenic microorganisms from plants, antagonists of phytopathogens, entomopathogens, mycorrhizas, endophytes of plants, bioremediators, and microorganisms from industrial processes.
Those animal and human pathogenic microorganisms belonging to a hazard group higher than Group 2 (based on the list and subsequent updates of the Directive 2000/54/EC of the European Parliament, such as the Commission Directive (EU) 2020/739 as regards the inclusion of SARS-CoV-2) and/or of unknown nature are excluded from being deposited as such. In the same way, mixtures of samples, contaminated samples, those without an adequate scientific description, or samples whose identity cannot be verified are excluded.
For the time being, protozoa, human and animal cell lines, animal viruses, and hybridomas cannot be received.
As a general rule, within MUM only strains that may be cultivated and preserved under technically feasible conditions, within the sphere of the collections preserved, without inducing significant changes in their characteristics, can be accepted.
Exceptionally, MUM may accept deposits that cannot be conserved other than by active culture, but acceptance of such a deposit will have to be decided, and the relevant fee determined, on a case-by-case basis after prior negotiation with the potential depositor. MUM may also exceptionally accept, following the same case-by-case negotiation procedure, a deposit of mixtures of microorganisms and microbiomes, whereby non-defined or non-identifiable mixtures will be automatically excluded.
MUM also reserves the right to refuse a deposit of biological material whose preservation involves hazards deemed to be excessive.
4. Indicate the official language or languages of the said institution [Rule 3-3.1(b)(v)]
MUM is an international microbial culture collection that uses English as the official language for all communications. However, the Portuguese language is also acceptable.
5. Indicate the date referred to in Article 7(1)(b) [Rule 3-3.1(b)(vi)]
The status of the International Depositary Authority will be acquired by MUM from the date of publication of the communication by the competent authority.
6. Requirements Communicated
As a general rule, MUM requires concerning the deposit of a microorganism under the Budapest Treaty:
a) That a written statement by the depositor covering the information required by Rules 6.1 and 6.2 be made on a form established by MUM.
b) That the fees laid down for storage be paid [Rule 12.1(a)(i)].
That the depositor supplies: three active freeze-dried samples, one of which will be subjected to a viability test and subsequently serve to prepare the minimum stock of 20 samples of cryogenically conserved samples and/or ampoules of freeze-dried samples; or, 23 ampoules of active freeze-dried samples of the sauce preparation, one of which will be subjected to a viability test and subsequently serve for the preparation of a minimum stock of 20 cryogenically conserved samples [Rule 6.3(a)(i)].
On the basis of this document, MUM complies with all requirements of the Budapest Treaty on the international recognition of a depositary of microorganisms for the purposes of patent procedure.
ANNEX II [Information provided regarding the requirements for deposit, furnishing of samples, schedules of fees and guidance for depositors]
1. Requirements for Deposit
(a) Kinds of Microorganisms that May Be Deposited
Bacteria and archaea (including those containing plasmids), fungi (including filamentous fungi and yeasts), plasmids in hosts, deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs).
MUM accepts for deposit microorganisms of Risk Group 1 & 2.
MUM does not accept microorganisms restricted or prohibited by EU or Portuguese laws or administrative regulations.
As a rule, MUM will only accept the deposit of materials that can be preserved by lyophilization or by some other long-term preservation method in use and without significant changes in their characteristics.
The biological material indicated above cannot be accepted if it is contaminated.
Mixtures of microbial cultures of more than two components can be accepted depending on the original sample and the preservation conditions.
The MUM reserves the right to refuse to accept for deposit material that in its view represents an unacceptable hazard or which it is not in a position to process.
(b) Technical Requirements and Procedures
(i) Form and Quantity
The state in which cultures must be submitted is given, e.g., lyophilized, frozen, liquid suspension, agar slant, etc. The minimum number of replicates that must be supplied by the depositor and the minimum titer of each culture (where appropriate) are stated.
MUM has the following special requirements for the form in which the microorganisms should be submitted for deposit.
Bacteria, archaea and fungi should be submitted to deposit in the form of two actively growing cultures (plate, agar slant, liquid suspensions, etc). Lyophilized cultures are also accepted. The material for deposit must be free from contamination. Cultures should be sent in appropriate containers to ensure the sample integrity.
(ii) Time required for viability testing
The average time required for testing the viability of the various kinds of microorganisms accepted by MUM is given below, but depositors should realize that in some cases, especially with slow growing microorganisms, viability testing may take longer, as indicated by the figures in brackets: Bacteria, archaea, yeasts |
4 days (or up to 3 weeks) |
| Filamentous fungi | 7 days (or up to 4 weeks) |
(iii) Depositor Checks and Renewal of Stocks
The MUM prepares its own lyophilized batches of bacteria, archae, yeasts and filamentous fungi, at the time of deposit by subculturing material supplied by the depositor (but not from plasmids and DNA). New batches are prepared from these as necessary thereafter for the renewal of diminishing stocks. The depositor is required to test for authenticity samples from all batches of his microorganism prepared by MUM. Despite the methods used for preparing batches of samples for distribution, MUM nevertheless stores a portion of the original material supplied by the depositor, if the culture supplied allows this.
(c) Administrative Requirements and Procedures
(i) General
Language. The official language of the MUM is Portuguese. Communications are also accepted in English.
Contract. The MUM does not enter into a written contract with the depositor defining the liabilities of either party but, by signing the MUM deposit form, the depositor accepts the General Terms and Conditions of the MUM and surrenders any right to withdraw his microorganism during the required storage period.
Import and/or Quarantine Regulations. In very few cases import regulations and embargo sanctions to the kinds of microorganisms accepted by MUM. In such cases, the depositor must supply the species name of the microorganism, whereupon the MUM will supply the information to obtain the necessary permits. The kinds of microorganisms accepted by MUM are not subject to quarantine regulations.
(ii) Making the Original Deposit
Requirements to Be Met by the Depositor. Depositors are required to complete form MUM-BP/1 (the equivalent of model form BP/1) which is the deposition form used for Budapest Treaty deposits. In the event of a later indication or amendment of the scientific description and/or proposed taxonomic designation, and a request for attestation that MUM has received such information, the depositor must complete the equivalent of model form MUM-BP/7.
Official Notifications to the Depositor. The receipt and viability statement are issued on mandatory "international forms" MUM-BP/4 and MUM-BP/9, respectively, both in Portuguese and English. Attestation of receipt of a later indication or amendment of the scientific description and/or proposed taxonomic designation is issued on the equivalent of model form MUM-BP/8. Notification of the furnishing of samples to third parties is issued on model form MUM-BP/14. Standard forms are not used for other official notifications.
Unofficial Notifications to the Depositor. MUM will communicate by e-mail the date of deposit and deposition number before the official statements of receipt and viability are issued, but only after the viability and purity test has been done and has given a positive result.
Supply of Information to a Patent Agent. If requested, MUM will send copies of the receipt and viability statement to both the depositor and his patent agent.
(iii) Converting a Previous Deposit
Deposits made outside the provisions of the Budapest Treaty may be converted by the original depositor to Budapest Treaty deposits, having been originally deposited for patent purposes or not. However, any deposits previously made free of charge are subject on conversion to the storage fees normally imposed for Budapest Treaty deposits. The administrative requirements for conversion are the same as those required for an original deposit made under the Treaty, except for the requirements relating to import and/or quarantine procedures do not apply.
(iv) Making a New Deposit
New deposit: In the event that MUM determines that a biological material is no longer viable, although originally found viable upon initial deposit, the depositor may replace the nonviable deposit with a new deposit. The deposit will retain its initial deposit number and date as long as (1) the replacement deposit is viable, (2) MUM receives the replacement deposit within three months of receipt by the depositor of the notification of nonviability, and (3) MUM receives a statement signed by the depositor alleging that the newly deposited biological material is the same as that originally deposited. No charges are due.
Supplemental deposit: In the event that MUM determines that the deposit, although still viable, no longer retains the original characteristics, the depositor will be asked to provide a Supplemental Deposit. This deposit will obtain a new date and a new accession number. All the normal forms for deposit must be filled out. No charges are due.
The depositor is requested to complete form MUM-BP/2 when making a new deposit, and to furnish copies of the documents required by Rule 6.2. The receipt and the viability statement with respect to a new deposit are issued on mandatory "international forms" MUM-BP/5 and MUM-BP/9, respectively.
2. Furnishing of Samples
(a) Requests for Samples
MUM will inform third parties of the correct procedures to follow to make a valid request. For those requests requiring proof of the right to receive samples, MUM will provide the requesting parties with copies of request form MUM-BP/12 and/or request forms used by a given industrial property office (in as much as such office has transmitted the relevant forms to MUM).
Notwithstanding any entitlement by a third party to receive samples under patent regulations, MUM will conserve the samples of potentially hazardous microorganisms until the requesting party has proven that it holds an authorization to handle such organisms. Likewise, they will only furnish samples of a microorganism to recognized microbiological laboratories and not to private addresses. In the case of requests from abroad, the requesting party must satisfy its own country's requirements with regard to importation.
All samples of microorganisms furnished by MUM will be taken from the batches, its own preparations, or from the batches furnished by the depositor.
(b) Notification of the Depositor
Depositors are notified on form MUM-BP/14 when samples of their microorganism have been furnished to third parties, unless the depositor has waived his right to receive such notification.
(c) Cataloguing of Budapest Treaty Deposits
In accordance with Rule 9.2 of the Treaty, MUM does not list Budapest Treaty deposits in its published catalogue.
3. Schedule of Fees
The fees payable to the IDA for procedures carried out under the Budapest Treaty are listed.
Schedule of fees(*) per unit |
EUR |
|
| (a) | 30 years storage of original deposits | 800 |
| (b) | New deposits | 150 |
| (c) | Extension of 5 years the duration of the storage beyond 30 years | 150 |
| (d) | Issuance of a viability statement: | |
| (i) Where a viability test is requested | 120 | |
| (ii) Based on the most recent viability test | 50 | |
| (e) | Furnishing of samples | 150 |
| (f) | Communication of information under Rule 7.6 | 100 |
| (g) | Issuance of an attestation under Rule 8.2 | 50 |
| (h) | Duplicate or translation of Form BP/4 | 50 |
| (i) | Surcharge to cover dispatch, bank and administrative costs | 40 |
(*): To the amounts from (a) to (h) the current VAT (23%) is applied. Item (i) VAT is excluded.
4. Guidance for Depositors
MUM provides specific written notes for the guidance of potential depositors as well as the necessary forms on its home page (http://www.micoteca.deb.uminho.pt/). In addition, it is always ready to give any detailed information by telephone or by e-mail.
ANNEX III
DECLARATION OF GUARANTEES
For all due purposes, it is hereby declared that Micoteca da Universidade do Minho, complies and will continue to comply with the requirements specified in Article 6(2) of the Budapest Treaty. These are:
(i) have a continuous existence;
(ii) have the necessary staff and facilities to carry out its scientific activities and administrative tasks under this Treaty;
(iii) be impartial and objective; (iv) be available for deposit to any depositor under the same conditions;
(iv) Accept for deposit the types of microorganisms for which it has requested International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure, examine their viability and store them;
(v) issue a receipt to the applicant and any required declaration of viability;
(vi) comply with the requirement of secrecy with regard to deposited microorganisms;
(vii) provide samples of any deposited microorganism under the conditions and in accordance with the procedure laid down.
Braga and University of Minho
[1] https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=a75XNwMAAAAJ&hl=en&authuser=2