Animal Plant Health Agency
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If you have a new plant variety, it must be tested to make sure it is distinct, sufficiently uniform and stable (DUS) as part of the application process to:
- add a plant variety to the UK national lists
- get intellectual property rights (known as plant breeders rights (PBR))
DUS criteria
DUS testing checks your new plant variety is distinct, uniform and stable.
Distinct
A distinct plant variety has at least one important characteristic that is different from other varieties included in the national list.
Uniform
A uniform plant variety has individual plants that share the same important characteristics.
Stable
A stable plant variety remains unchanged after repeated propagation, for example, reproduction from seeds, cuttings, bulbs or other plant parts.
Get your variety tested
APHA will ask you to send your seed or plant material for testing as part of your application to add your variety to the national lists or for PBR. Theyll tell you how much to send and when.
Do not send plant material until APHA requests it.
Testing takes:
- 1 to 3 years for ornamentals depending on species
- 3 years for trees
- 4 years for herbage varieties
- 2 years for other species
Your variety might need more tests on parental species if youre registering hybrid varieties.
APHA will send you a copy of the test results.
DUS protocols
Read the DUS protocols for: