Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated ActsNo. 110, 1994
Compilation No. 23
Compilation date: 14 October 2024
Includes amendments: Act No. 39, 2024
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Plant Breeder's Rights Act 1994 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 14 October 2024 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.
Self-repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Contents
1 Short title
2 Commencement
4 Definition of essentially derived
5 Definition of breeding
6 Genetic modification
8 Approved persons
9 Act to bind Crown
9A Application of the Criminal Code
9B Extension to Norfolk Island
10 Extent of Act
Part 2--Plant breeder's right
11 General nature of PBR
12 Extension of PBR to cover essentially derived varieties
13 Extension of PBR to cover certain dependent plant varieties
14 Extension of PBR to harvested material in certain circumstances
15 Extension of PBR to products obtained from harvested material in certain circumstances
16 Certain acts done for private, experimental or breeding purposes do not infringe PBR
17 Conditioning and use of farm saved seed does not infringe PBR
18 Restrictions on exercise of PBR in certain circumstances
19 Reasonable public access to plant varieties covered by PBR
20 PBR is personal property
21 Registrar must be notified of an assignment of PBR
22 Duration of PBR
23 Exhaustion of PBR
Part 3--Application for plant breeder's right
Division 1--The making of the application
24 Right to apply for PBR
25 Right to apply for PBR is personal property
26 Form of application for PBR
27 Names of new plant varieties
28 Applications to be given priority dates
29 Priority dates arising from foreign application
30 Acceptance or rejection of applications
31 Requests for variation of application
32 Notification of decisions on requests to vary application
33 Withdrawal of application
Division 2--Dealing with the application after its acceptance
34 Detailed description in support of application to be given to Registrar
35 Objection to application for PBR
36 Inspection of applications and objections
37 Test growing of plant varieties
38 Characteristics of plant varieties bred or test grown outside Australia
Division 3--Provisional protection
39 Provisional protection
Division 4--Essential derivation
40 Essential derivation for PBR-protected varieties--declaration
41 Essential derivation for PBR-protected varieties--test growing
41A Essential derivation for non-PBR-protected second varieties--application for declaration
41B Essential derivation for non-PBR-protected varieties--publication of applications
41C Essential derivation for non-PBR-protected varieties--opportunity to be heard
41D Essential derivation for non-PBR-protected varieties--declaration
41E Essential derivation for non-PBR-protected varieties--test growing
41F Essential derivation for non-PBR-protected varieties--application lodged for PBR in second variety
Part 4--The grant and revocation of Plant Breeder's Right
Division 1--Grant of Plant Breeder's Right
43 Registrable plant varieties
44 Grant of PBR
45 Grant of PBR to be exclusive
46 Grant of PBR to be entered on Register
47 Notice of grant of PBR
48 Effect of grant of PBR
49 PBR may be subject to conditions
Division 2--Revocation of Plant Breeder's Right or declaration of essential derivation
50 Revocation of PBR
51 Entry of particulars of revocation
52 Surrender of PBR
Part 5--Enforcement of Plant Breeder's Right
53 Infringement of PBR
54 Actions for infringement
54A Counterclaims to actions for infringement
55 Declarations as to non-infringement
56 Jurisdiction of the Federal Court
56A Jurisdiction of Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2)
57 Innocent infringement
57A Application for relief from unjustified threats
57B Court's power to grant relief
57C Counterclaim for infringement
57D Notification of PBR in a plant variety not a threat
57E Liability of legal practitioner
Part 6--Administration
58 Registrar of Plant Breeder's Rights
59 Delegation
60 Certain persons not to acquire PBR
61 Register of Plant Varieties
62 Inspection of Register
62A Registrar's power to rectify Register
Part 8--Miscellaneous
68 Public notices
69 Notices inviting submissions in respect of certain regulations
70 Genetic resource centres
71 The herbarium
72 Agents may act in matters relating to PBR
72A Notifications by Registrar under this Act or regulations
72B Manner in which documents may be lodged with or given to Registrar
72C Approved means of lodging or giving documents
73 Service of documents
74 Infringement offences
75 Offences other than infringement offences
76 Conduct by directors, employees and agents
76A Doing act when PBR office reopens after end of period otherwise provided for doing act
76B Computerised decision-making
77 Applications for review
78 Repeal
79 Compensation for acquisition of property
80 Regulations
80A Approved means of paying a fee
Part 9--Transitional
81 Definitions
82 Plant variety rights under old Act to be treated as PBR under this Act
83 Applications for plant variety rights lodged and criminal proceedings begun before commencing day
84 Other applications and proceedings under old Act
86 Register of Plant Varieties
Endnotes
Endnote 1--About the endnotes
Endnote 2--Abbreviation key
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Endnote 4--Amendment history
The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.
The following endnotes are included in every compilation:
Endnote 1--About the endnotes
Endnote 2--Abbreviation key
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Endnote 4--Amendment history
Abbreviation key--Endnote 2
The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.
Legislation history and amendment history--Endnotes 3 and 4
Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.
The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.
The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.
If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
Misdescribed amendments
A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.
If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and "(md not incorp)" is added to the amendment history.
ad = added or inserted | o = order(s) |
am = amended | Ord = Ordinance |
amdt = amendment | orig = original |
c = clause(s) | par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |
C[x] = Compilation No. x | /sub-subparagraph(s) |
Ch = Chapter(s) | pres = present |
def = definition(s) | prev = previous |
Dict = Dictionary | (prev ... ) = previously |
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | Pt = Part(s) |
Div = Division(s) | r = regulation(s)/rule(s) |
ed = editorial change | reloc = relocated |
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | renum = renumbered |
effect | rep = repealed |
F = Federal Register of Legislation | rs = repealed and substituted |
gaz = gazette | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |
LA = Legislation Act 2003 | Sch = Schedule(s) |
Sdiv = Subdivision(s) | |
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |
effect | SR = Statutory Rules |
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s) |
cannot be given effect | SubPt = Subpart(s) |
mod = modified/modification | underlining = whole or part not |
No. = Number(s) | commenced or to be commenced |
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Act | Number and year | Assent | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions | ||
Plant Breeder's Rights Act 1994 | 110, 1994 | 5 Sept 1994 | 10 Nov 1994 (s 2(1) and gaz 1994, No S392) |
| ||
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999 | 4, 1999 | 31 Mar 1999 | Sch 5: 31 Mar 1999 (s 2) | -- | ||
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999 | 146, 1999 | 11 Nov 1999 | Sch 1 (item 733): 5 Dec 1999 (s 2(1), (2) and gaz 1999, No S584) | -- | ||
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1999 | 170, 1999 | 10 Dec 1999 | Sch 1: 10 Dec 1999 (s 2(1)) | Sch 1 (item 7) | ||
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 | 115, 2001 | 18 Sept 2001 | Sch 1 (items 244-247): 16 Oct 2001 (s 2) | |||
Plant Breeder's Rights Amendment Act 2002 | 148, 2002 | 19 Dec 2002 | 20 Dec 2002 (s 2) | Sch 1 (items 39-45) | ||
106, 2006 | 27 Sept 2006 | Sch 11 (items 1, 2), Sch 14 and Sch 15 (items 2, 3): 28 Sept 2006 (s 2(1) items 11, 13) | Sch 11 (item 2), Sch 14 (item 3) and Sch 15 (item 3) | |||
Personal Property Securities (Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 | 131, 2009 | 14 Dec 2009 | Sch 2 (items 16, 17): 30 Jan 2012 (s 2(1) item 1) | -- | ||
Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Act (No. 2) 2010 | 4, 2010 | 19 Feb 2010 | Sch 11 (item 15): 20 Feb 2010 (s 2(1) item 13) | -- | ||
8, 2010 | 1 Mar 2010 | Sch 1 (item 40) and Sch 5 (item 137(a)): 1 Mar 2010 (s 2(1) items 4, 38) | -- | |||
5, 2011 | 22 Mar 2011 | Sch 1 (item 92): 22 Mar 2011 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- | |||
Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Raising the Bar) Act 2012 | 35, 2012 | 15 Apr 2012 | Sch 6 (items 104-108): 15 Apr 2013 (s 2(1) item 7) | -- | ||
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2015 | 5, 2015 | 25 Feb 2015 | Sch 3 (items 147-151): 25 Mar 2015 (s 2(1) item 10) | -- | ||
8, 2015 | 25 Feb 2015 | Sch 3: 25 Aug 2015 (s 2(1) item 4) | Sch 4 (item 81-84) | |||
Biosecurity (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2015 | 62, 2015 | 16 June 2015 | Sch 2 (items 47, 48) and Sch 4: 16 June 2016 (s 2(1) items 2, 4) | Sch 3 and Sch 4 | ||
as amended by |
|
|
|
| ||
93, 2017 | 23 Aug 2017 | Sch 2 (item 9): 20 Sept 2017 (s 2(1) item 4) | -- | |||
Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015 | 126, 2015 | 10 Sept 2015 | Sch 1 (item 674): 24 Feb 2017 (s 2(1) item 3) | -- | ||
33, 2016 | 23 Mar 2016 | Sch 5 (item 81): 1 July 2016 (s 2(1) item 7) | -- | |||
4, 2018 | 20 Feb 2018 | Sch 5: 21 Feb 2018 (s 2(1) item 1) | Sch 5 (item 8) | |||
Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Productivity Commission Response Part 1 and Other Measures) Act 2018 | 77, 2018 | 24 Aug 2018 | Sch 1 (items 7-42) and Sch 2 (items 43-97, 112, 129-138, 152, 169-179, 201, 202, 209-217, 221-237, 243-299): 24 Feb 2019 (s 2(1) items 3, 6, 8, 10) | Sch 1 (item 42), Sch 2 (items 112, 152, 179, 209, 217, 223, 237, 299) and Sch 2 (item 350) | ||
as amended by |
|
|
|
| ||
13, 2021 | 1 Mar 2021 | Sch 2 (items 477, 478): 1 Sept 2021 (s 2(1) item 5) | -- | |||
13, 2021 | 1 Mar 2021 | Sch 1 (items 272-274): 1 Mar 2023 (s 2(1) item 4) | Sch 1 (items 273, 274) | |||
Administrative Review Tribunal (Consequential and Transitional Provisions No. 2) Act 2024 | 39, 2024 | 31 May 2024 | Sch 11 (items 35-76): 14 Oct 2024 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- | ||
Provision affected | How affected |
Part 1 |
|
s 3..................... | am No 4, 1999; No 148, 2002; No 106, 2006; No 35, 2012; No 8, 2015; No 62, 2015; No 126, 2015; No 4, 2018; No 77, 2018; No 13, 2021; No 39, 2024 |
s 4..................... | am No 77, 2018 |
s 7..................... | rep No 106, 2006 |
s 8..................... | am No 77, 2018 |
s 9A.................... | ad No 115, 2001 |
s 9B.................... | ad No 33, 2016 |
s 10.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
Part 2 |
|
s 11.................... | am No 148, 2002 |
s 12.................... | rs No 77, 2018 |
s 18.................... | rs No 148, 2002 |
| am No 77, 2018 |
s 19.................... | am No 8, 2015; No 77, 2018; No 39, 2024 |
s 20.................... | am No 131, 2009 |
s 21.................... | am No 170, 1999; No 8, 2015; No 77, 2018; No 39, 2024 |
s 22.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
s 23.................... | am No 148, 2002; No 77, 2018 |
Part 3 |
|
Division 1 |
|
s 24.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
s 25.................... | am No 131, 2009 |
s 26.................... | am No 148, 2002; No 8, 2015 |
| ed C17 |
| am No 77, 2018 |
| ed C20 |
s 27.................... | am No 4, 1999; No 148, 2002 |
s 28.................... | am No 106, 2006; No 77, 2018 |
s 29.................... | am No 148, 2002; No 77, 2018 |
s 30.................... | am No 148, 2002; No 77, 2018 |
| ed C20 |
| am No 39, 2024 |
s 31.................... | am No 8, 2015; No 77, 2018; No 39, 2024 |
s 32.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
s 33.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
Division 2 |
|
s 34.................... | am No 148, 2002; No 62, 2015; No 77, 2018; No 39, 2024 |
s 35.................... | am No 170, 1999; No 77, 2018 |
s 36.................... | am No 148, 2002; No 77, 2018 |
s 37.................... | am No 170, 1999; No 148, 2002; No 77, 2018; No 39, 2024 |
s 38.................... | am No 77, 2018; No 39, 2024 |
Division 3 |
|
s 39.................... | am No 148, 2002; No 8, 2015; No 77, 2018; No 13, 2021; No 39, 2024 |
Division 4 |
|
s 40.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
| ed C20 |
| am No 39, 2024 |
s 41.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
| ed C20 |
| am No 39, 2024 |
s 41A................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
| am No 39, 2024 |
s 41B................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
| am No 39, 2024 |
s 41C................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
s 41D................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
| am No 39, 2024 |
s 41E................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
| am No 39, 2024 |
s 41F................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
Part 4 |
|
Division 1 |
|
s 42.................... | rep No 77, 2018 |
s 43.................... | am No 170, 1999; No 148, 2002; No 35, 2012; No 77, 2018 |
s 44.................... | am No 77, 2018; No 39, 2024 |
s 45.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
s 46.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
s 47.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
s 48.................... | am No 148, 2002; No 77, 2018; No 39, 2024 |
s 49.................... | am No 148, 2002; No 4, 2018; No 77, 2018; No 39, 2024 |
Division 2 |
|
s 50.................... | am No 170, 1999; No 148, 2002; No 8, 2015; No 77, 2018; No 13, 2021; No 39, 2024 |
s 51.................... | am No 5, 2011; No 77, 2018 |
s 52.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
Part 5 |
|
s 53.................... | am No 4, 1999; No 148, 2002; No 77, 2018 |
s 54.................... | am No 148, 2002; No 8, 2015; No 77, 2018; No 13, 2021 |
s 54A................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
s 55.................... | am No 8, 2015; No 77, 2018; No 13, 2021 |
s 56.................... | am No 8, 2015; No 77, 2018; No 13, 2021 |
s 56A................... | ad No 8, 2015 |
| am No 77, 2018; No 13, 2021 |
s 57.................... | am No 8, 2015 |
s 57A................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
| am No 13, 2021 |
s 57B................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
| am No 13, 2021 |
s 57C................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
s 57D................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
s 57E................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
Part 6 |
|
s 58.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
s 59.................... | am No 146, 1999 |
| rs No 106, 2006 |
| am No 77, 2018 |
s 60.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
s 61.................... | am No 4, 1999; No 170, 1999; No 8, 2010; No 77, 2018 |
s 62.................... | am No 4, 1999 |
s 62A................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
| am No 39, 2024 |
Part 7................... | rep No 4, 2018 |
s 63.................... | am No 148, 2002 |
| rep No 4, 2018 |
s 64.................... | am No 148, 2002 |
| rep No 4, 2018 |
s 65.................... | am No 148, 2002 |
| rep No 4, 2018 |
s 66.................... | rep No 4, 2018 |
s 67.................... | am No 148, 2002 |
| rep No 4, 2018 |
Part 8 |
|
s 68.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
s 69.................... | am No 4, 2018; No 77, 2018 |
s 70.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
s 71.................... | am No 77, 2018 |
s 72.................... | am No 8, 2015; No 13, 2021 |
s 72A................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
s 72B................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
s 72C................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
s 73.................... | rs No 8, 2015 |
| am No 77, 2018 |
s 74.................... | am No 115, 2001 |
s 75.................... | am No 115, 2001; No 77, 2018 |
s 76.................... | am No 4, 2010; No 5, 2015 |
s 76A................... | ad No 106, 2006 |
s 76B................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
| am No 39, 2024 |
s 77.................... | am No 148, 2002; No 77, 2018 |
| ed C20 |
| am No 39, 2024 |
s 80.................... | am No 170, 1999; No 77, 2018 |
s 80A................... | ad No 77, 2018 |
Part 9 |
|
s 85.................... | rep No 4, 2018 |
Schedule................. | am No 148, 2002; No 8, 2010 |
| rep No 35, 2012 |