Plant Breeders' Rights Office

Site examinations

Travel restrictions are in effect for the PBR Office until the end of 2020. If you plant/grow PBR trials this year, we will not be able to travel to your location to conduct the site examination. Delays in the PBR trial examination will not have a negative impact on the status of the application, including exercising exclusive rights over the variety in the marketplace. Contact the PBR Office if you have any questions.

Plant Breeders' Rights are a form of intellectual property rights by which plant breeders can protect their new varieties in the same way an inventor protects a new invention with a patent.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency administers the Plant Breeders' Rights Act (1990) and Regulations which provide legal protection to plant breeders for new plant varieties for up to 25 years for a variety of tree and vine (including their rootstocks), and 20 years for all other varieties of plants.

Apply for Plant Breeders' Rights online

You can now apply online for Plant Breeders' Rights in Canada using the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) PRISMA application tool.

What information is available

Information for applicants

Learn about Plant Breeders' Rights

Related information

Adjusting service fees for inflation

Please note that in order to be compliant with the Service Fees Act passed by the Government of Canada in 2017, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will adjust its fees based on the Consumer Price Index every March 31 going forward.

Please consult the Plant Breeders' Rights Fee Payment form or contact the PBR Office for the most up-to-date rates.

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Date modified:: 2020-09-25

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