Following an open competition, the Council, on the basis of a proposal from the European Commission drawn up after obtaining the opinion of the Administration Council of the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO), has decided to nominate Mr. Bart Kiewiet President of the CPVO for another five years as of the 1st of August 2006. Mr. Kiewiet, of Dutch nationality, was first nominated President of the CPVO in 1996.

The CPVO started its activities in June 1995. Since then the Community plant variety protection system has grown steadily, resulting in the grant of more than 17.000 Community plant variety rights.  Recently, the Community Plant Variety Office registered its 25.000th valid application for Community plant variety rights.   The Community protection system managed by the CPVO has become the largest of its kind in the world.

Prior to taking up this position at the CPVO, Mr. Kiewiet was Vice-President of the Trade and Industry Board of the Netherlands.  He combined this function with the presidency of the Dutch Board for Plant Breeders’ Rights.

Mr. Kiewiet has made numerous presentations and articles about plant variety protection in general and the Community plant variety protection system in particular.