The project is based on exchange on plant variety testing and seed trade management between Taiwan and the UK side was conducted to strengthen the international deployment of orchids and seed industries in Taiwan. Taiwan is a major global orchid breeding center and 12th largest source of imported flowers of the UK, with orchids accounting for over 99% of imports. Since the 2019 mutual recognition of DUS test reports in phalaenopsis with CPVO, the efficiency of plant variety protection applications in EU has been significantly improved. With oncidium already established in the Dutch market and expansion into the UK underway, further harmonization of DUS testing standards and institutional cooperation is essential.

The UK operates a mature plant variety protection and seed certification system, coordinated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Applications for plant variety rights and national listing are managed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), while DUS and VCU testing is conducted by designated institutes including NIAB, AFBI, and SASA. DUS testing typically spans two growing seasons, and VCU testing requires at least two years, with official verification ensuring regulatory credibility. The UK framework also allows recognition of foreign official DUS reports, facilitating international variety deployment.

The exchange also included engagement with Euroseeds to review recent EU regulatory developments on New Genomic Techniques (NGT), Plant Reproductive Material (PRM), and variety registration, supporting Taiwanese stakeholders in future European compliance planning. In parallel, discussions with Naktuinbouw focused on harmonizing Oncidium testing in line with UPOV guidelines, with consensus to advance toward mutual recognition and targeted technical training. Overall, this exchange enhanced alignment in Taiwan with UK and EU regulatory and technical systems, supporting the advancement of DUS testing standards, seed certification capacity, and the global competitiveness of  orchid and seed industries in Taiwan.

▲Fig 1. Group photo with UK DUS and VCU testing experts.

▲Fig 2. Group photo with the European Seed Industry Association (Euroseeds) (second from the left).

▲Fig 3. Group photo with DUS testing technical team of Naktuinbouw, the Netherlands.