4. Can you please provide the process by which to obtain copies of Plant Variety Protection (PVP) applications or certificates?
Answer: Publicly available information about applications is listed on our website under
Public Access Databases. Once a Certificate of Protection is issued, then the entire contents of the file are open to the public. If the application you are asking about has not been issued (eg. APPLICATION is still pending a final decision or APPLICATION was abandoned, withdrawn, denied, or declared ineligible during the examination process): According to Section 56 of the Plant Variety Protection Act, "Applications for plant variety protection and their contents shall be kept in confidence ... to which no access may be given under regulations."
If the item you are requesting is (or ever has been) an issued certificate that has not already been posted on our website, you can send us your request in writing with payment. See question #5 for our available methods of payment.
