FRUITNET




 

Proposed changes could reduce prevalence of international leaks while breeders await registration 

Japan is set to revise its plant variety protection laws in a bid to block unauthorised exports of new crop varieties by third parties, according to a recent report by Japan Today.  

Currently, plant rights are only protected once a new variety has been officially registered – which can take up to six years to complete. 

Due to the long registration timeframe, it’s common practice for breeders to cultivate more plants on a trial basis while a new crop is undergoing its review.

This means companies can begin marketing as soon as a new variety is registered. However, according to Japan Today, the practice has increased the risk of international leaks before a variety can be entered on the official register. 

In fact, in 2025 Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries confirmed that names similar to 50 new fruit varieties from Japan appeared on Chinese and Korean seed vendor websites. 

“The varieties were likely leaked during the application process,” an agriculture ministry official told Japan Today. 

Under the proposed revision, protection would be applied as soon as a developer has submitted a new variety for registration. It would also extend plant breeders’ rights, by another ten years. Currently fruit varieties are protected for 30 years and other plants for 25 years. 

The bill is expected to be submitted during the current special parliamentary session and is intended to be implemented within the year.