EGYPT REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO PROTECT PLANT BREEDERS’ RIGHTS AHEAD OF THE 2025 GRAPE SEASON
Cairo, 25 March 2025
Dr. Mohammed Mansi, Head of the Egyptian Central Administration of Plant Quarantine (CAPQ) received Mr. Duncan Macintyre, President of The Breeders Alliance, together with representatives of the leading table grape breeding companies.
During the meeting, the two sides acknowledged the importance of grapes as a strategic export crop, especially in the light of the increasing demand for Egyptian grapes and the opening of new markets.
In recent years the breeders have introduced many new varieties of high-performance table grapes to Egypt which are now being successfully cultivated by the leading Egyptian growers. These new varieties offer enhancements such as improved productivity and quality, disease resistance, flavour and texture – all the attributes demanded by today’s international markets.
All these new varieties are protected under the Egyptian Plant Variety Rights legislation and once again the CAPQ has confirmed its intention to revoke the export codes from any farms or exporters who are in violation of these rights.
Both sides agreed that it was far better to prevent the export from Egypt of illegal fruit rather than to intercept it at the destination market. Nevertheless, Macintyre confirmed that The Breeders’ Alliance will be increasing its market surveillance activities and also that it will be working closely with customs authorities in Europe and the UK to prevent the importation of illegal fruit.
The system of export coding is administered by CAPQ under a decree by His Excellency the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation. CAPQ staff will take samples from farms which are suspected of producing these new varieties without a valid license from the breeders. These samples will be DNA tested at the newly established CAPQ laboratory.
The delegation also visited the laboratory, situated at Cairo International Airport, and spent some time discussing DNA testing technology with the CAPQ lab staff.
During this visit it was agreed that The Breeders Alliance would facilitate further training for the laboratory staff on both the genetic and morphological characteristics of the new varieties.
Said Macintyre – “The Breeders Alliance applauds the CAPQ and indeed the Egyptian authorities in general for their positive and proactive action to uphold breeders’ rights. This will guarantee that Egypt continues to be a very favourable country for the breeders to promote their new varieties. The approach taken by Egypt to protect these intellectual property rights is a great example to other countries.”
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