The Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe deposited its Instrument of Ratification of the Arusha Protocol on the Protection of New Varieties of Plants of July 6, 2015, with the Director General of ARIPO on September 29, 2020.
The Protocol, once in force, will implement an effective regional system that will allow farmers access to a wide range of improved varieties to contribute to attaining the regional goal of economic development and food security.
The Arusha Protocol was adopted by a Diplomatic Conference of ARIPO Member States in Arusha, Tanzania, on July 6, 2015. São Tomé and Príncipe, together with The Gambia, Ghana, and Mozambique, were the four ARIPO Member States that signed the Protocol on that day. The United Republic of Tanzania signed the Protocol a few months later.
Pursuant to Article 40 of the Protocol, any State which is a
member of ARIPO or any State to which membership is open may become
party to this Protocol either by signature followed by deposit of
an instrument of ratification or by deposit of an instrument of
accession.
The Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe has now
become the second ARIPO Member State, after the Republic of Rwanda,
to become party to the Protocol.
In accordance with Article 40(3) of the Arusha Protocol, the Protocol will come into force twelve months after four States have deposited their instruments of ratification or accession.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.