Instruments

Der internationale Vertrag über pflanzengenetische Ressourcen für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft
Internationale Pflanzenschutzübereinkommen
Internationale Verband zum Schutz von Pflanzenzüchtungen

International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture ITPGRFA

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) came into force on 29 June 2004. Today, 149 states are Contracting Parties. Switzerland ratified the Treaty on 22 November 2004.

Its aim is to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) and the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use.

The Treaty and the Multilateral System – a pool of genetic resources with a simple access system and coordinated benefit-sharing established under the Treaty – are important instruments for protecting agricultural plant diversity. Farmers and breeders depend on them to tackle the global challenges. These include the growing world population and climate change, which make it necessary to breed heat-resistant and humidity-tolerant varieties.

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The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is an intergovernmental treaty signed by more than 180 countries aiming to protect the world’s plant resources from the spread and introduction of pests, and promoting safe trade. The Convention introduced International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) as its main tool to achieve its goals, making it the sole global standard-setting organisation for plant health.

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The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV)

The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) is an intergovernmental organisation with headquarters in Geneva. UPOV was established by the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. The Convention was adopted in Paris in 1961 and was revised in 1972, 1978 and 1991. UPOV’s mission is to provide and promote an effective system of plant variety protection with the aim of encouraging the development of new plant varieties for the benefit of society.