Plant Varieties and Seeds Act 1964

11 The Plant Variety Rights Office

(1) For the purposes of this Part of this Act there shall be an office to be known as the Plant Variety Rights Office which shall be under the immediate control of an officer appointed by the Ministers, to be known as the Controller of Plant Variety Rights.

(2) The Controller shall in the exercise of his functions, other than the taking of any decision from which an appeal lies to the Tribunal, act under the general direction of the Ministers.

(3) The Ministers may, in addition to the Controller, appoint a deputy controller and such other officers and servants to act in the Plant Variety Rights Office as the Ministers may with the consent of the Treasury determine, and there shall be paid to the Controller and any other officers and servants appointed under this section such remuneration and allowances as the Treasury may determine.

(4) Without prejudice to the Controller's general discretion as to the manner in which he performs his duties under this Act, and subject to subsection (2) of this section, the Controller—

(a) in carrying out the tests and trials which he considers expedient for the purposes of this Part of this Act, and in assessing the results of any tests and trials (whether carried out by him or not) which he considers relevant for those purposes, may use the services of persons who are not officers or servants appointed under this section and may pay to such persons in respect of their services fees in accordance with such a scale as he may with the approval of the Treasury determine, and

(b) may establish and maintain reference collections of plant material, and

(c) may by means of grants of such amounts as he may with the approval of the Treasury determine defray or contribute towards the expenses incurred by any other person in maintaining any reference collection of plant material.

(5) Any act or thing directed to be done by or to the Controller may be done by or to any officer authorised by the Ministers, and prima facie evidence, or in Scotland sufficient evidence, of any document issued by the Controller may be given in all legal proceedings by the production of a copy or extract certified to be a true copy or extract by an officer appointed under this section and authorised to give a certificate under this subsection.

(6) There shall be an official seal for the Plant Variety Rights Office, which shall be officially and judicially noticed, and shall be authenticated by the signature of the Controller or of an officer appointed under this section and authorised to authenticate the seal.

(7) Any document purporting to be certified or sealed in accordance with subsection (5) or subsection (6) of this section shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been duly certified or sealed without proof of the official character or handwriting of the person appearing to have certified the document or authenticated the seal.