Invoicing time for DUS-testing fee for national applications will change as of 1 January 2023

From January 1, the Board for plant varieties will follow the CPVO's system used for payment of examination fees to Examination Offices.

This means that from 1 January, the DUS-testing fee for applications for registration and/or plant breeders’ rights in the Netherlands will be charged 10 days after the deadline for submitting the identity material has passed. In practice, the invoice will be sent 10 days after the deadline for submitting the identity material has passed and the trial has started at Naktuinbouw.

This way we connect the moment of invoicing with the actual start of the DUS-test

In this way, invoices are only sent for DUS-tests for applications for which the trial and DUS-test has started. We expect this to reduce the number of unnecessary invoices or credit notes. In practice, this means that in many cases invoices are sent later than in the current situation.

Crediting DUS-testing fee in case of withdrawal of national applications will change from 1 January 2023

From January 1, the Board for plant varieties will follow the CPVO's system used for payment of examination fees to Examination Offices.

When withdrawing the national application for registration and/or plant breeders’ rights in the Netherlands, we will follow this procedure from 1 January:

• Withdrawal before or on the submission deadline or before or on the last day of the submission period: 25% of the DUS-testing fee will be charged;

• Withdrawal after the submission deadline or after the last day of the submission period: 100% of the DUS-testing fee will be charged.

We use a uniform working method

We believe that this makes it clear to you as an applicant what costs you can expect when withdrawing an application. In addition, we also ensure that the costs incurred by Naktuinbouw in preparation for the DUS-test are reimbursed.