The Enlarged Editorial Committee (TC-EDC) met virtually on 13th January 2026 to advance technical work under the UPOV system. Discussions focused on the development and revision of Test Guidelines for variety examination, as well as new guidance for the validation of molecular markers and their harmonized presentation in Test Guidelines.
During the meeting, participants discussed the Test Guidelines for several crops, notably goji, poinsettia, carnation, hazelnut, and eggplant. These discussions contribute to ensuring the continued clarity, consistency and technical soundness of Test Guidelines used in the examination of plant varieties under the UPOV system.
The outcomes of the session will support the continued development of globally harmonized standards under the UPOV system, further strengthening international cooperation in plant variety protection.
What are UPOV Test Guidelines?
UPOV Test Guidelines provide detailed guidance for the harmonized examination of distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) of new plant varieties. They play a key role in setting international standards for variety testing and identify characteristics for the examination of DUS and production of harmonized variety descriptions. Further details are available on the Test Guidelines page.