DUS protocols for testing plant varieties
Protocols and procedures for testing the distinctiveness, uniformity and stability (DUS) of certain agricultural and vegetable plants.
The EU does not accept UK distinctiveness, uniformity and stability (DUS)(DUS) protocols.
The UK will accept EU DUS reports during the transition period for the agricultural, amenity and vegetable species wheretested the UK does have testing capability by any of the following organisations,organisations so long as the testing started before 31 January 2020:
- Agri-Food
AFBI(Agri-FoodInstitute) - National
NIAB(NationalBotany) - Science
SASA(ScienceAgriculture)
For other species, the UK will continue to accept EU DUS reportsprovided asit longis asof thecomparable quality isto as good as UK testing.
EU Directive
See the .
DUS
tests
As part of the application process to add a plant variety to the National List or for approval of plant breeders’ rights, the plant variety must be tested to ensure it is distinct, sufficiently uniform and stable (DUS).(DUS).
DUS tests are carried out at approved centres over a 2-year period. They’reThey are done in line with protocols and procedures approved by the Plant Variety and Seeds Committee, which represents the national authorities on seeds issues.
The Community Plant Variety Rights Office develops the technical protocols which set the characteristics to be used in the DUS
tests.
DUS criteria
Distinct
Distinct
A distinct plant variety has one or more important characteristics that are different from other varieties included in the National List, a list of another EU state, or the EU Common Catalogue.
Uniform
A uniform plant variety has individual plants which have similar or genetically identical important characteristics, with very few aberrations.
Stable
A stable plant variety has important characteristics which remain true to their original description after successive propagations or multiplications.
DUS
protocols
- Oats
- Leek
-
Updated DUS protocols - barley, field beans, ryegrass hybrid, ryegrass Italian, ryegrass perennial and wheat.
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Updated EU Directive section.
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Updated DUS protocols for potato
-
Oilseed rape and fodder rape protocol updated
-
Notice announcing the implementation updated
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DUS protocol for potatoes updated
-
Broccoli, Brussels sprout, Cabbage and Field pea and pea DUS protocols updated.
-
Sugar beet protocol updated
-
Oats DUS protocol updated
-
Notice announcing the implementation of 2016/1914/EU published
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Notice announcing the implementation of EU Directive 2016/1914/EU published
-
DUS protocols for 'oats' and 'oilseed rape and fodder rape' updated
-
Updated DUS protocol - field beans
-
Field beans DUS protocol updated
-
Notice announcing the implementation of EU Directive 2015/1168/EU published.
-
Sugar beet protocol updated
-
DUS protocols - peas, radish, rape and swede updated
-
Notice announcing the implementation of EU Directive 2014/105/EU published.
-
First published.
Update history
2024-12-13 17:10
Updated the sugar beet protocol.
2024-11-13 11:37
Added 2024 DUS protocols for barley, field beans, field pea and peas, oats, swede, turnip, and turnip rape.
2024-09-05 16:04
Updated the DUS protocol for oilseed rape and fodder rape.
2024-08-19 16:44
Replaced DUS for sugar beet.
2024-04-25 15:53
Turnip DUS protocol replaced with correct version.
2024-03-13 16:18
Updated the Turnip DUS protocol.
2024-02-15 16:09
Added 2022 DUS protocol for potato.
2023-12-05 14:42
Updated the DUS variety testing time to 1 to 3 years for ornamentals depending on species.
2023-12-01 10:41
The UK will accept EU DUS test reports for ornamental species that the UK has testing capability for.
2023-11-01 08:32
Removed DUS protocols for beetroot, broad bean, broccoli, brussels sprout, cabbage, carrot, celery, curly kale, leek, onion and echalion, parsnip, potato, radish, rose, runner bean, shallot, watercress.
2023-10-05 10:53
Removed the 2023 DUS protocol for sugar beet and replaced with previous version. The 2023 DUS protocol for Sugar Beet is under review.
2022-12-20 15:49
Added DUS protocols for barley, beetroot, broad bean, broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, carrot, celery, curly kale, festulolium, field beans, field pea and pea, fodder kale, hybrid ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, leek, oats, oilseed rape and fodder rape, onion and echalion, parsnip, perennial ryegrass, potato, runner bean, radish, rose, shallot, sugar beet, swede, turnip, turnip rape, watercress, wheat, white clover.
2022-08-19 14:34
Added a new section on UK DUS report requests
2021-09-30 17:26
Removed information on the EU Directive as this is not directly applicable to DUS testing in the UK.
2020-05-28 14:49
Updated DUS protocols – barley, field beans, ryegrass hybrid, ryegrass Italian, ryegrass perennial and wheat.
2020-05-28 11:09
Updated EU Directive section.
2020-02-25 07:16
Updated DUS protocols for potato
2019-07-31 09:53
Oilseed rape and fodder rape protocol updated