The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has officially been integrated into the UPOV PRISMA electronic filing platform, enabling breeders to submit Plant Variety Protection (PVP) applications online under the Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. The Arusha Protocol entered into force on 24 November 2024 and currently has four contracting states: Cape Verde, Ghana, Rwanda, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

UPOV PRISMA, developed by the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), provides a centralized and secure digital platform that allows breeders to submit PVP applications to over 36 participating PVP Offices, covering more than 70 countries and territories.

Breeders filing via ARIPO through UPOV PRISMA benefit from a harmonized online platform that streamlines multi-jurisdictional applications, allowing for data reuse from prior filings to enhance accuracy and efficiency. The fully digital process supports timely submissions, real-time tracking, instant submission confirmations, and ongoing visibility into the application progress.

ARIPO Director General Bemanya Twebaze described the integration as a significant milestone in modernizing and streamlining the administration of plant variety protection across participating states. UPOV Vice Secretary-General Yolanda Huerta emphasized its role in supporting agricultural innovation and food security across the region.

With ARIPO’s integration, UPOV PRISMA further expands its coverage across Africa, complementing the participation of other African UPOV members such as the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Tunisia.

This development represents a further step towards improving access to plant variety protection and strengthening support for breeders across Africa.

For further information or assistance, contact our Africa Intellectual Property specialists