Law No. 24 of 2000 for the Protection of new Varieties of Plants.

This Law consisting of 31 articles divided in IX Sections aims at regulating registration and introduction of new plant varieties in order to protect them. It applies to varieties under the plant genera or species which shall be specified in the Regulation to be issued in accordance with the provisions of this Law. A Register of New Plant Varieties is established under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture in which is saved all data and information related to new plant species including registration certificates. The Law provides rules and conditions to be met to register the new varieties and technical examinations to be carried out. The Law states the requirements for plant variety registration, when it should be inspected and how the inspection must be undertaken. The variety shall undergo a technical examination to verify if it fulfills the requirements of distinction, uniformity and stability, and a Technical Committee of experts shall be formed to verify the results of the tests and exams. To register a new plant variety the following conditions have to be met (i) it is new; (ii) it is distinct; (iii) it is uniform; and (iv) it is stable.
The breeder shall have the right, after the registration of the variety, to protect it by preventing others not having his consent from doing the following: production or reproduction (multiplication), conditioning for the purpose of propagation, offering for sale, selling or other marketing activities, exporting and importing. The Law also defines the terms for the protection of the variety and for the transfer of ownership, hypothecation and detention of the variety. The Law sets forth the licensing procedure for the exploitation of the variety and its denomination. Penalties against plants' breeders are listed in the text.
The IX Section are entitled as follows: Definitions; Registration of New Plant Varieties; Protection of the Variety; Transfer of Ownership, Hypothecation and Detention of the Variety; Licensing to exploit the Variety; Nullification and Cancellation of the Registration of the Variety; Variety Denomination; Provisional Measures and Penalties; and General Provisions.