International Cultivar Registration Authority Totally Explained

Everything about International Cultivar Registration Authority totally explained

International Cultivar Registration Authorities (ICRAs) are appointed by the ISHS (International Society for Horticultural Science) Commission for Nomenclature and Cultivar Registration. In the 50 years that the ICRA system has been established it has contributed significantly to the stability of cultivated plant nomenclature.==Purpose== The scheme operates under the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP) and its mission is to prevent duplicated uses of cultivar and Group epithets within a defined denomination class (usually a genus), as well as ensuring that names are in all other respects in accord with the latest edition of the ICNCP.

Scope of authority

The system is both voluntary, and non-statutory and it doesn't confer any legal protection over the name or the plant. Such protection has to be sought through statutory schemes such as Plant Breeders’ Rights or Plant Patents, which differ between counties. The ICRA system is in effect the horticultural world’s attempt at self-policing of nomenclature and is truly international in its scope. ICRAs are not responsible for assessing the distinctiveness of the plant in question.

How it operates

The ICRA system depends upon the co-operation of all involved with the creation and marketing of new plants. Normally, all that's required is the submission of the plant name and any other required data to the ICRA, and in most cases there's no direct cost to the applicant. Although an ICRA is entitled to charge a small fee to cover their costs, most provide this indispensable service without charge.
The ICRA will:

check each new name (termed an epithet) to ensure that it hasn't been used before,
validate that in all other respects it's in accord with the ICNCP,
finally, notify the registrant of the success, or not, of the application.

Applicants must understand that registration will be refused if the name has been used before and should always await the ICRA’s decision before implementing any marketing for the plant, the ICRA are not responsible for any losses incurred in this respect.

Formally establishing names

Each ICRA is also charged with the responsibility of ensuring that new names are formally established (for example published in hard copy, with a description in a dated publication). Establishment in this context is an important concept since it's only after such publication that the name has precedence for its use for a particular plant.
Whilst the ICRA will ensure through its own publications that names are established, it's recommended that registrants shouldn't necessarily rely on this and should also try to ensure that their new names are securely established as soon after registration as possible.
It isn't sufficient to release details onto the Internet, as that isn't considered to be hard copy.

Further Information

Get more info on 'International Cultivar Registration Authority'.

External Link Exchanges

Do you know how hard it is to get a link from a large encyclopaedia? Well we're different and will prove it. To get a link from us just add the following HTML to your site on a relevant page:

<a href="http://international_cultivar_registration_authority.totallyexplained.com">International Cultivar Registration Authority Totally Explained</a>

Then simply click through this link from your web page. Our crawlers will verify your link, extract the title of your web page and instantly add a link back to it. If you like you can remove the words Totally Explained and embed the link in article text.
As long as your link remains in place, we'll keep our link to you right here. Please play fair - our crawlers are watching. Your site must be closely related to this one's topic. Any kind of spamming, dubious practises or removing the link will result in your link from us being dropped and, potentially, your whole site being banned.