United States · Law · S
S. 1406 (103rd)
Plant Variety Protection Act Amendments of 1994
Introduced
6 August 1993
Last action
6 October 1994 · President
Status
Became Public Law No: 103-349.
Sponsors
Sen. Kerrey, J. Robert [D-NE], Sen. Daschle, Thomas A. [D-SD], Sen. Durenberger, Dave [R-MN], Sen. Exon, J. James [D-NE], Sen. Kassebaum, Nancy Landon [R-KS], Rep. Pressler, Larry [R-SD-1], Chuck Grassley, Sen. Nickles, Don [R-OK], Rep. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID-1], Sen. Kempthorne, Dirk [R-ID], Rep. Cochran, Thad [R-MS-4]
Subjects
Agriculture
Source updated
14 January 2025
Summary
Plant Variety Protection Act Amendments of 1993 - Amends the Plant Variety Protection Act to revise definitions and establish rules of construction concerning: (1) the sale and disposition of harvesting material, varieties, and hybrid seeds; (2) the filing of applications for the protection or entering of a variety in an official register; and (3) the basis of determining the distinctness of a variety or whether a variety is publicly known. Entitles breeders of sexually reproduced plant varieties (other than fungi or bacteria) (currently, other than fungi, bacteria, or first generation hybrids) who have reproduced a variety to plant variety protection if the variety is new, distinct, uniform, and stable. Provides that if two or more applicants for plant variety protection submit applications on the same filing date for indistinguishable varieties that fulfill the conditions for protection established by this Act, the applicant who first complies with this Act's requirements shall be entitled to protection to the exclusion of any other applicant. Issues a single protection certificate jointly to two or more applicants who comply with requirements on the same date for varieties that are indistinguishable. Lengthens the term of plant variety protection from 18 to 20 years from the date of issuance of the protection certificate (25 years for trees or vines). Adds the following activities to the list of actions which constitute infringement of an owner's right to plant variety protection if performed without an owner's authorization: (1) conditioning the variety for purposes of propagation; and (2) stocking the variety for any existing purpose which constitutes infringement. Permits owners to authorize the use of a variety subject to their own limitations. Provides that it shall not be an infringement of an owner's rights to perform any act: (1) concerning propagating material of a protected variety that has been marketed in the United States unless the act involves further propagation of the variety or involves an export into a country that does not protect such varieties of the plant genus or species (unless the export is for final consumption); or (2) done privately and for noncommercial purposes. Removes a provision that declares that it is not an infringement for a person whose primary farming occupation is the growing of crops for sale other than reproductive purposes to sell saved seed for reproductive purposes.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
6 August 1993
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
Source: IntroReferral
6 August 1993
Introduced
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10867-10868, S10870-10872)
Source: IntroReferral
6 August 1993
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
20 August 1993
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Agricultural Research.
Source: Committee
20 September 1993
Committee
Subcommittee on Agricultural Research. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 103-312.
Source: Committee
25 May 1994
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
25 May 1994
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6429-6432)
Source: Floor
25 May 1994
Discharge
Senate Committee on Agriculture discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Discharge
25 May 1994
Committee
Senate Committee on Agriculture discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Committee
26 May 1994
Floor
Held at the desk.
Source: Floor
26 May 1994
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
26 May 1994
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
12 August 1994
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
12 August 1994
Floor
A similar measure H.R. 2927 was laid on the table without objection.
Source: Floor
12 August 1994
Passed
On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
12 August 1994
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
12 August 1994
Passed
The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.R. 2927. Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
12 August 1994
Floor
Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H8031-8034)
Source: Floor
12 August 1994
Floor
Mr. de la Garza asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
Source: Floor
16 August 1994
Floor
Message on House action received in Senate and at the desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Source: Floor
21 September 1994
Passed
Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S13090-13092)
Source: ResolvingDifferences
21 September 1994
Passed
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S13090-13092)
Source: NotUsed
22 September 1994
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
26 September 1994
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
26 September 1994
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
6 October 1994
Became law
Became Public Law No: 103-349.
Source: President
6 October 1994
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
6 October 1994
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Enrolled Bill · 21 September 1994 · Official file
- Engrossed Amendment House · 12 August 1994 · Official file
- Engrossed in Senate · 25 May 1994 · Official file
- Committee Discharged Senate · 25 May 1994 · Official file
- Introduced in Senate · 6 August 1993 · Official file
Documents
14 official files
Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 7 October 1994
Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN · 21 September 1994
Enrolled Bill (PDF)
Enrolled Bill · EN · 21 September 1994
Engrossed Amendment House (text)
Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 12 August 1994
Engrossed Amendment House (PDF)
Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 12 August 1994
Passed House amended
summary · EN · 12 August 1994
Committee Discharged Senate (text)
Committee Discharged Senate · EN · 25 May 1994
Committee Discharged Senate (PDF)
Committee Discharged Senate · EN · 25 May 1994
Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 25 May 1994
Engrossed in Senate (PDF)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 25 May 1994
Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 25 May 1994
Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 6 August 1993
Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 6 August 1993
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 6 August 1993
Sponsors
- Sen. Kerrey, J. Robert [D-NE] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Daschle, Thomas A. [D-SD] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Durenberger, Dave [R-MN] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Exon, J. James [D-NE] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Kassebaum, Nancy Landon [R-KS] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Pressler, Larry [R-SD-1] · R · Cosponsor
- Chuck Grassley · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Nickles, Don [R-OK] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID-1] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Kempthorne, Dirk [R-ID] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Cochran, Thad [R-MS-4] · R · Cosponsor
- · ssaf00 · Standing
Related records
- related to → Plant Variety Protection Act Amendments of 1994
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/1406
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/103/s/1406
- us · 103-s-1406 · source updated 14 January 2025