MISTI, MAFF Advance Plant Variety Protection, Plant Breeders’ Rights with Proposed Legal Amendments

AKP Phnom Penh, February 10, 2025 --

The Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), in collaboration with the Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), co-organised in Phnom Penh on Feb. 10 a workshop on proposed amendments to the Law on Seed Management and Plant Breeders’ Right.

“The amendments aim to strengthen the protection of new plant varieties in accordance with international standards and align Cambodia’s legal framework with the UPOV Convention,” H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation, said at the opening ceremony.

The Law on Seed Management and Plant Breeders’ Right governs the management and control for use, production, processing, registration, distribution and import-export of plant varieties as well as the protection of new plant varieties, with MISTI overseeing plant variety protection rights and MAFF managing all plant varieties in Cambodia.

“Intellectual property protection is crucial for promoting trade and encouraging research into new crop varieties. This protects plant breeders' rights, promotes Cambodian agricultural products in the domestic market, and expands exports to regional and international markets,” H.E. Minister added.

The workshop gathered national and international experts from MISTI and MAFF along with representatives from UPOV, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and JATAFF, to discuss international best practices, the amendment process, and the benefits of UPOV membership for Cambodia.

AKP