The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), an intergovernmental organization that promotes the development of new varieties of plants, marked its 40th anniversary in December 2001 with a growing number of States acceding to the UPOV Convention. The Republic of Korea became the 50th Contracting Party to the UPOV Convention, which was adopted on 2 December 1961, after the deposit of its instrument of accession to the UPOV Convention (1991 Act) on 7 December 2001.

The UPOV members have increased rapidly in recent years, growing from 20 at the end of 1992, to 50 today. A further increase in membership is expected as 19 States have initiated with the Council of UPOV the procedure for becoming members of the Union. In addition, 39 States have contacted the Secretariat in view of developing legislation in line with the UPOV Convention.

The mission of UPOV is to provide and promote an effective system of plant variety protection, with the aim of encouraging the development of new varieties of plants, for the benefit of society. For further information contact: UPOV Secretariat, 34, Chemin des Colombettes, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland: Fax: ++41-22-7330336; E-mail: upov.mail@wipo.int; Website: http://www.upov. int.