ICAR prepares for patent regime

NEW DELHI, July 24: Indian Council of Agricultural Research ICAR has started registration of emerging new varieties and cross-breeds of plants in preparation for the patent regime as per the World Trade Organisation WTO norms.

The registration of any new plant variety followed by various laboratory tests mark the beginning of the patenting process. The government is also likely to bring a Plant Variety Protection Act shortly and has prepared a draft for it, he said. As per GATT a system should be in place before January 1, 2000 not only for intellectual property protection but also for the patent protection in the fields not yet covered under the law.