Home  Plant
Breeders Rights Qualified
Person
Qualified Person
What is a QP?
A qualified person, or QP, acts as a PBR applicant's technical consultant.
They accept responsibility for overseeing the comparative trial and for providing evidence
that a variety is distinct, uniform and stable. This role may involve the QP consulting on
choice of comparative varieties, experimental design, management regime, collection of data,
statistical analysis, photography and preparation of the description of the variety .
The QP's technical role helps guarantee that applications for PBR are technically rigorous.
It complements the role of PBR Office examiners in ensuring that PBR grants are legally sustainable
in the event of infringement and subsequent litigation.
When first applying for PBR, an applicant must nominate a QP.
This is done using a 'QP1' form - 'Nomination of a qualified person'.
This form is intended to provide a guide for the applicant and their QP in
determining what functions the QP will play in the preparation of the application.
Once the application is complete, the QP must certify the application by completing
and signing form 'QP2' - 'Certification by the qualified person'. This form outlines
exactly which functions the QP undertook or supervised in relation to the application.
There are two categories of QP:
- Consultant QP - accredited to act as consultants to PBR applicants. The applicant retains the QP on a
mutually agreed basis. A list of consultant QPs appears in each issue of the Plant Varieties Journal.
- Non consultant QP - accredited to certify applications for which they are the breeder, owner or
authorised agent, or, an employee of the breeder, owner or authorised agent.
QPs are required to pay an annual accreditation fee of $50.00 and will receive a complimentary
copy of the Plant Varieties Journal each quarter. The fee will fall due on January 1 each year
and you will receive an invoice one month prior to due date. Note that accreditation is ascribed
to the individual - it is not transferable to other people within a company or institution.
As part of the accreditation process, the PBR Office conducts workshops for qualified persons.
These workshops cover the principles, practice and developments of the PBR application process.
You must attend a workshop annually in order to validate and maintain your accreditation as well
as keep abreast of developments in PBR.
How do I apply?
If you wish to be accredited as a QP, you will need to apply to the PBR Office. Your application should include the following information:
- full name, address and contact numbers;
- current employment details;
- qualifications;
- relevant experience;
- species or group of species for which accreditation is being sought;
- the geographical area in which you are able to act as a QP;
- names, addresses and telephone numbers of three referees;
- whether or not consultant or non-consultant status is being sought; and
- a cheque for $50.00 made payable to the Collector of Public Monies.
Applications should be sent to :
The Registrar
IP Australia
PO Box 200
Woden ACT 2606
|
