The Secretary-General of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) presents his compliments to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and has the honor to notify him that, at the expiration of the required period (that is, on October 31, 1979), the following States had signed the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants of December 2, 1961, as revised at Geneva on November 10, 1972, and on October 23, 1978 (hereinafter referred to as "the 1978 Act"):
- Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany (Federal Republic of), Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, on October 23, 1978;
- Canada, on October 31, 1979; Ireland, on September 27, 1979; Japan, on October 17, 1979; Mexico, New Zealand, on July 25, 1979; Sweden, on December 6, 1978.
(Total: 16 States)
In accordance with the provisions of Article 32(1)(a) of the 1978 Act, it may be ratified, accepted or approved by any of the signatory States listed above. In accordance with the provisions of Article 32(3) of the 1978 Act, the 1978 Act may be acceded to by any State which is not a member of the Union and which has not signed the said Act if, after having asked the Council of UPOV to advise it in respect of the conformity of its laws with the provisions of the 1978 Act, the decision of the Council embodying the advice is positive.
Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession must be deposited with the Secretary-General of UPOV.
The date of entry into force of the 1978 Act will be notified when the required number of ratifications, acceptances, approvals or accessions is reached in accordance with Article 33(1) of the said Act.
November 15, 1979