These Regulations amend the Plant Breeders' Rights (Fees) Regulations 1998. They prescribe revised fees in respect of various matters relating to plant breeders' rights arising under the Plant Varieties Act 1997, including also matters arising under the Plant Breeders' Rights Regulations 1998 which are made under the 1997 Act (regulation 2 and the Schedule).

The matters in respect of which the revised fees are prescribed are listed in the Schedule to these Regulations and the fees which were chargeable before these Regulations come into force are printed in italics beside the revised fees.

Application, test and renewal fees in Parts I, II and III of the Schedule (other than reduced renewal fees for roses which remain unchanged) have been increased by 5 per cent., rounded to the nearest £5. Grant and other fees in Part IV of the Schedule have been similarly increased in respect of items 1, 2, 4, 5(a), (b) and (c) and 9; all other fees in relation to items in Part IV remain unchanged.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament. Copies can be obtained from the Plant Variety Rights Office and Seeds Division of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, White House Lane, Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0LF.