Taiwan, EU agree on mutual recognition of butterfly orchid testing results

2019/04/30

An administrative arrangement on the mutual recognition of examination results for variety protection of Phalaenopsis and Doritaenopsis, or butterfly orchids, was concluded by Taiwan and the EU April 26 in Taipei City.
 
 Under the three-year pact, which takes effect June 1, the two sides’ breeders and traders can use origin tests to apply for destination variety rights protection. They must also submit a five-plant sample for reference to the destination authority.
 
 The Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture said the agreement eliminates the need to carry out examinations at the origin and destination. This caps processing time at around 12 months and slashes related fees for the destination application to 320 euros (US$357) from an average 2,020 euros, the COA added.
 
 According to the council, the arrangement is a strong vote of confidence in Taiwan’s orchid industry and will encourage more local growers to seek variety protection in the EU. The council will utilize its experience in negotiating the pact to seal similar deals with other countries and regions so as to better assist the industry grow its global footprint, the COA said.
 
 Taiwan is an orchid breeding powerhouse. It provides seedlings to 80-plus countries and territories annually, and exported 73.93 million strands of butterfly orchids in 2018 worth US$150 million, or 69 percent of the country’s floral exports for the year.
 
 The EU is the world’s No.1 orchid market. It requires 150 million potted butterfly orchids per year and imported 20 million strands from Taiwan in 2018.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)