African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI)

PVP Office Contact Information

African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI)
Place de la Préfecture
B.P. 887
Yaoundé
Cameroun

Tel. (237) 222 20 57 00 / (237) 222 20 39 11
Fax. (237) 222 20 57 27
Website:  http://www.oapi.int
E-mail: oapi@oapi.int

Specific requirements in relation to UPOV PRISMA
Are there any specific requirements in relation to UPOV PRISMA that are not required when filing an application directly to the PVP Office?

Applications must be submitted on paper format (PDF document generated after submission of application data via UPOV PRISMA).

Even if the application is made electronically via UPOV PRISMA, the PDF generated by UPOV PRISMA must be printed and submitted in hard copy with the other attachments directly to OAPI.

Application data
Will I receive confirmation that my application data has been received successfully?

On receipt of your application by OAPI, a filing record, showing the filing number and submission date in UPOV PRISMA, will be sent to the applicant at the address given on the application form.

Attention is drawn to the requirement that a paper copy of the application, together with proof of payment of the required fee, must always be sent separately from the submission of application via UPOV PRISMA.

Plant Material
When applicable, where should I send the plant material?

Each year, OAPI determines the date and place for the submission of plant material and reference samples to be used in the technical examination, as well as the quality and quantity of the plant material and samples.

This information will be sent directly to the applicant at the address given on the application form.

The technical DUS examination is performed by a specialized institution authorized by the Director General of OAPI.

The costs of the technical examination are borne by the applicant and must be paid directly to OAPI.

It is possible to reuse existing DUS Reports, when submitting an application in OAPI. Please contact OAPI for more details.

The applicant must provide all information, documents or material requested by OAPI for the purposes of the technical examination, failing which, unless serious reasons are given by the applicant, the application will be rejected.

Payment
How and when do I pay the PVP application fee?

Not yet available.

Information on PVP application fee(s) is available on OAPI website at the following link: https://oapi.int/taxes-applicables-en-matiere-dobtentions-vegetales/

Payment of PVP application fee(s) can be done by bank transfer or by a cash deposit into the OAPI account.

Payment of the PVP application fee(s) should be made before submitting application data via UPOV PRISMA (proof of payment is required as an attachment).

Will I receive confirmation that the payment has been received?

On receipt of proof of payment of the fees and confirmation thereof, a payment invoice will be sent to the applicant or to the agent/ local representative.

Agent / Local Representative
Do I need an agent or local representative in the country, if I am not a resident?

All applicants from outside the OAPI area must apply through an OAPI-accredited agent included in the list available to applicants. Please contact OAPI for more details.

An agent/ local representative is not mandatory for applicants from within the OAPI region, meaning that applicants which are residents in, and nationals from, countries of the OAPI region do not need agent/local representative.

UPOV PRISMA Note: Agents that have already created an AGENT Account in UPOV PRISMA can indicate the territories in which they operate. Those agents will appear in a list. In cases where agents need to be accredited by the PVP Office, the agents will only be added to the list of agents available in UPOV PRISMA after the PVP Office has confirmed that the necessary accreditations have been given.
Filing Date
What is considered to be the filing date? (Note: For instance, are there any documents that the applicant must submit to the PVP offices in addition to the application form in PRISMA and the documents required in the application form in PRISMA. If so, please indicate such documents. Are there any documents that the applicant must send in paper format to the PVP Office. If so, please indicate such documents.)

OAPI considers the filing date to be the date of receipt of the application, provided that the application contains:

(a) the name and other information required concerning the applicant, the person who bred the variety if different from applicant, and, where appropriate, the agent;

(b) the identification of the botanical taxon (Latin name and common name);

(c) the denomination proposed for the variety, or a temporary designation;

(d) a concise technical description of the variety;

(e) proof of payment of the required PVP application fees must be enclosed in the application.

Application would be considered acceptable to be given a filing date only if the “proof of payment” of the required PVP application fees is included in the application.

UPOV PRISMA Disclaimer: The authority entrusted with the task of granting breeders’ rights (PBR authority) retains full responsibility in relation to the requirements concerning the filing date of applications in accordance with the legislation of the member of the Union concerned.

Dates for submission
For testing or plant material purposes, are there dates for the submission of applications?

Applications may be submitted at any time (See section “Plant material”).

Additional requirements
Are there any additional requirements?

No additional requirement had been notified to UPOV PRISMA at the time of issuing this information but please consult the PVP Office for the latest situation.