Shine Muscat and Strawberries Put Japan's Agricultural IP System Under the Spotlight For decades, Japan has built a global reputation for developing premium fruit and vegetable varieties that command strong consumer demand and premium prices. From luxury grapes to highly prized strawberries, the country's breeding programmes have produced some of the most recognisable names in horticulture. Yet as these varieties have gained international popularity, protecting the intellectu

In March 2026, the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) of China released its sixth batch of “Top 10 Typical Cases,” signalling a major shift in the judicial enforcement of plant variety rights (PVR). These cases collectively demonstrate the evolution of China’s PVR regime toward a more robust, deterrence-driven, and enforcement-oriented framework that aligns with broader intellectual property (IP) protection trends. A key development is the increased use of punitive damages, marking

According to investigators, a fake rice seed production ring led by Nguyen Huy Vu sold products to hundreds of agents across many provinces nationwide, earning illicit profits of tens of billions of VND. Dak Lak Provincial Police have provided initial investigation results into a case involving the production of hundreds of tons of fake rice seeds in the province. After a period of surveillance, at around 4:15 PM on December 31, 2025, the Economic Police Department of Dak Lak

China has stepped up its crackdown on counterfeit agricultural products, with authorities imposing strict penalties—including lengthy imprisonment—for offenders. Recent cases released by the Supreme People’s Court and Supreme People’s Procuratorate highlight crimes involving fake seeds, pesticides, and fertilisers. Offenders used deceptive tactics such as selling old seeds as new and mislabelling products to defraud farmers. In a major case, a man surnamed Liu was sentenced t

Mumbai, 20 April 2026 In a significant enforcement action, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, India, has uncovered a large-scale smuggling operation involving restricted agricultural commodities at Nhava Sheva Port (JNPT), Maharashtra, India. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, DRI officials intercepted 132 containers that had been falsely declared as ‘Toor Dal (Pigeon Peas)’.‘ Upon detailed examination, the consignments were found to contain approxima

The International Seed Federation (ISF) and 12 organisations representing plant breeders around the world are to collaborate in the fight against illegal seed practices. The organisations pledged their cooperation as they signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at the ISF World Seed Congress 2024 today (Tuesday, May 28) in the Netherlands. Through this new agreement, the organisations aim to increase awareness about and implement legitimate seed and plant practices