USDA to Hike PVPO Fees

WASHINGTON Jan 10-05 - SNS -- The USDA wants to charge supplemental fees for its Plant Variety Protection Office.

The proposed rule will allow the PVPO to charge supplemental fees for a variety of administrative services that are not currently charged by the program.

These include: replenishment of seed low in germination or seed number; submission of new application data after notice of allowance, but prior to certification issuance; recording any revision, withdrawal or revocation of an assignment; and protest to issuance of certificate.

In addition, the allowance and issuance fee will be increased to recover the costs of enhancing the PVPO electronic archiving capabilities. A list of the proposed supplemental fees may be found at http://www.ams.usda.gov/science/pvpo/pvpindex.htm

The Plant Variety Protection Act of 1970, as amended, requires that reasonable fees be collected in order to maintain the program.

The proposed rule will be published in the Jan. 11, 2005, Federal Register. Comments must be received on or before Feb. 10, 2005. For further information, contact Paul Zankowski, Commissioner, Plant Variety Protection Office, Rm. 401, National Agricultural Library Building, 10301 Baltimore Blvd., Beltsville Md. 20705.