Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to seek observer status of the Community Plant Variety Office after the UK has left the EU.

Leaving the EU presents a major opportunity for UK agriculture. We are working towards achieving the best possible deal for the UK agricultural industry and we want to ensure a deep and lasting agreement with the European Union. For plant variety rights and testing, as with all other areas, future arrangements are subject to negotiation with the EU. We are aware that Article 39 of the Community Plant Variety Rights Regulation offers the possibility of observer status in CPVO’s Administrative Council, which is currently available to accession states and organisations representing the plant breeding industry. The Administrative Council’s main role concerns finance, budgets and management.