Section 1: Issue and maintenance of plant variety certificates

The benefit of the filing date of the certificate application is acquired if at least the documents referred to in Article R. 623-5, even if these documents are not regular in form. If the filing does not include the aforementioned documents, the application is declared inadmissible and returned to the applicant; any fees paid are refunded. In the event of formal irregularities, these must be rectified within two months of…

As an exception to the provisions of Article R. 623-4, a provisional reference may be given instead of a denomination to designate the variety which is the subject of the application at the time of filing. In this case, the denomination must be proposed, failing which the application will be inadmissible, within two months of the notification sent to the holder of the application by the person in charge of…

A copy of the application for a plant variety certificate is given to the applicant at the time of filing, bearing a visa certifying the day and time of filing of the application and including a registration number. Where the filing is made by post or teletransmission, the copy of the application intended for the applicant may be sent to him by the same means. The date and time of…

The application is entered in the Register of applications for plant variety certificates provided for in Article R. 623-38 in the order of filing under the number that has been indicated to the applicant. This is the number which must appear on all the notifications provided for in this section until the plant variety certificate is issued.

Until the plant variety certificate is issued, the applicant may request the rectification of material errors found in the documents filed. The request must be made in writing and include the text of the amendments proposed by the applicant. It is entered in the Register of applications for plant variety certificates and is only admissible if it is accompanied by proof of payment of the fee due.