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The Tribunal makes decisions about national listing of new varieties of plants, UK plant variety rights and certain forestry matters.


The Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal (PVST) makes legally binding decisions about national listing of:

  • new varieties of plants
  • UK plant variety rights
  • certain forestry matters

PVST is a tribunal of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).

New varieties of agricultural and vegetable species must be on a national list before you can sell seed. Find out how to add a new plant variety.

UK plant variety rights are a type of intellectual property protection specifically for new varieties of plant. Find out how to get plant breeders’ rights for your new variety.

Find out more about the Forestry Commission and the Forest Reproductive Material regulations.

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