A system for the protection of plant variety rights has been established by Community legislation. The system allows intellectual property rights, valid throughout the Community, to be granted for plant varieties. The Community plant variety right (CPVR) is a form of intellectual property akin to a patent.

The Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) in Angers (France) implements and applies this scheme. On the basis of one application to the CPVO, a breeder may be granted a single intellectual property right operative throughout the European Community. The system is based on the four underlying regulations:

• Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 of 27 July 1994 on Community plant variety rights
• Commission Regulation (EC) No 1239/95 of 31 May 1995 establishing implementing rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 as regards proceedings before the Community Plant Variety Office
• Commission Regulation (EC) No 1238/95 of 31 May 1995 establishing implementing rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 as regards the fees payable to the Community Plant Variety Office
• Commission Regulation (EC) No 1768/95 of 24 July 1995 implementing rules on the agricultural exemption provided for in Article 14 (3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 on Community plant variety rights.