Plant Variety Protection Act, 2021. Act no. 5 of 2021. Country/Territory Nigeria Document type Legislation Date 2021 Source FAO, FAOLEX Original source Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette no. 84 of 2021. Long titleAn Act for the protection of plant varieties, to encourage investment in plant breeding and crop variety development, to establish a plant variety protection office for the promotion of increase staple crop productivity for smallholder farmers in Nigeria; and for related matter. Subject Cultivated plants Keyword Basic legislation Breeders' rights/farmers' rights Crops/grasses Inspection Internal trade Plant production Plant protection Plant variety Registration Planting material/seeds Smallholders/peasants Authorization/permit International trade Offences/penalties Special fund Intellectual property rights/patents Geographical area Africa, North Atlantic, Western Africa Entry into force notes 21 May, 2021. Abstract This Act, divided into eleven Parts and consisting of 57 articles, protects plant varieties, encourages investment in plant breeding and crop variety development and provides for the establishment of a plant variety protection office for the promotion of increased staple crop productivity and mutual accountability in the seed sector for smallholder farmers in Nigeria. The Act applies to breeder and to any plant species. Part II of the Act concerns the establishment of plant variety protection office, the appointment of registrar, the register of plant variety’s rights, the inspection of register, the functions of the office including: granting breeders’ rights and facilitating their transfer, collaboration with local and international bodies related to plant breeders' rights matters, maintaining registers and providing information. Part III of the Act provides for the plant varieties to be protected and defines conditions of protection, criteria for defining novelty and distinctness. Full text English Website www.upov.int