Approval of plant varieties
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority considers applications for the approval of plant varieties for National Listing.
Contents on this page
The Norwegian Plant Variety Board acts as an advisory body. The objective of the acceptance procedure is to ensure that marketed varieties are sufficiently adapted to the growth-conditions in Norway. As a rule, seeds can only be marketed if the variety is listed in the National list of varieties or in the EU Common Catalogue.
Application deadline, forms and terms for the approval of plant varieties
The application deadline is February 1st.
A plant variety can be approved only if it is distinct, stable and sufficiently uniform (DUS). The variety must be of satisfactory value for cultivation and use in Norway (VCU). The variety can be added to the National List of varieties if it has a suitable denomination and a maintainer.
The period of national listing expires at the end of the calendar year ten years after the year when the variety was first listed in the National list. The period of National listing can be extended when the continued use/growing of the variety is justified, provided that the variety is still distinct, stable and uniform. The application for the extension of National Listing must be submitted no later than two years before the expiration of the period of National Listing. The period of National Listing for the variety in question will be temporarily extended until the application for extension is considered.
Other rules apply for the approval of conservation varieties and vegetable varieties developed for growing under particular conditions.
Forms
Application for listing a Plant Variety on the Norwegian Official List of Varieties
Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU)
In order to be approved for National Listing, varieties of agricultural species (cereals, forages and potatoes) must be of sufficient value for cultivation and use (VCU) in Norway.
Through the examination for VCU the varieties are tested and evaluated in respect of growing properties like earliness, resistance to weather conditions and important plant diseases, winter hardiness, yield and quality.
The VCU-test is performed by Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Based on the results of the VCU-test, NIBIO give their advice to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.
VCU for forages – initialisation of periodic testing
As from 2020 the testing of value for conservation and use (VCU) for forages will be organized in a new way. The initialisation of a new cycle of testing of new varieties in each species will only occur every fifth year. It will not be possible to enter new varieties during the five-year test cycle.
VCU for forages – periodic testing
For forages the testing is periodic. This implies that the initialisation of a new cycle of testing of new varieties in each species only occurs every fifth year. It will not be possible to enter new varieties during the five-year test cycle.
The trials are sown for three succeeding years. Each experimental plot is then harvested for three years. The VCU fee is charged for each year of sowing.
IMPORTANT: In order for a new variety to be included when testing of a new species is initiated, an application for approval of the variety must be submitted by 1 February in the year of initiation. You can see the order of starting a new test in the various species in the table below.
| Year of initialisation | Species |
| 2024 | No new species starting this year |
| 2025 | Festuca pratensis L., x Festulolium* |
| 2026 | Phleum pratense L. |
| 2027 | Trifolium pratense L., Trifolium repens L., Medicago sativa L. |
| 2028 | Lolium perenne L., Lolium multiflorum, x Festulolium* |
| 2029 | No new species starting this year |
| 2030 | Festuca pratensis L., x Festulolium* |
| 2031 | Phleum pratense L. |
| 2032 | Trifolium pratense L., Trifolium repens L., Medicago sativa L. |
| 2033 | Lolium perenne L., Lolium multiflorum, x Festulolium* |
| 2034 | No new species starting this year |
*The testing of x Festulolium can be done either together with varieties of Festuca pratensis or together with the Lolium varieties, according to the origin of the x Festulolium.
DUS-test
A plant variety can be approved only if it is distinct, stable and sufficiently uniform (DUS).
The DUS-test is carried out abroad, on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. There are different deadlines for registration and submission of plant material depending on the country in which the DUS-test is to be carried out and the species in question.
Guidelines for DUS testing of the various plant species are drawn up by the CPVO (Community Plant Variety Office) and UPOV (International Union for the Protection of new Varieties of Plants).
Deadlines for registration and submission of plant material
https://online.plantvarieties.eu/publication
Fees and charges
Current fees (2023)
- VCU-test and approval of plant varieties, per year: NOK 15,700
- DUS-test: The Norwegian Food Safety Authority buy DUS-tests from EU-countries. Fees vary with actual cost.
- Copy of DUS test that has already been completed: NOK 3,320
- Approval of plant varieties without VCU: NOK 1,700
DUS-test
A plant variety can be approved only if it is distinct, stable and sufficiently uniform (DUS).
DUS-test
A plant variety can be approved only if it is distinct, stable and sufficiently uniform (DUS).
The DUS-test is carried out abroad, on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. There are different deadlines for registration and submission of plant material depending on the country in which the DUS-test is to be carried out and the species in question.
Guidelines for DUS testing of the various plant species are drawn up by the CPVO (Community Plant Variety Office) and UPOV (International Union for the Protection of new Varieties of Plants).
Deadlines for registration and submission of plant material
See Plant material submission to Entrusted Examination Offices (plantvarieties.eu)
Fees and charges
Find the the current fees applicable to approval of plant varieties.
Current fees (2023):
- VCU-test and approval of plant varieties, per year: NOK 15,700
- DUS-test: The Norwegian Food Safety Authority buy DUS-tests from EU-countries. Fees vary with actual cost.
- Copy of DUS test that has already been completed: NOK 3,320
- Approval of plant varieties without VCU: NOK 1,700