---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2421"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2421"
heading: "Application for recognition of plant variety rights"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2421"
units:
  - "Chapter 57 — Plant Variety Protection"
  - "Subchapter II — Protectability of Plant Varieties and Certificates of Protection"
  - "Part E — Applications; Form; Who May File; Relating Back; Confidentiality"
---

# §2421. Application for recognition of plant variety rights

- (a) An application for a certificate of Plant [Variety](/usc/7/2401.md?p=a-10) Protection may be filed by the owner of the [variety](/usc/7/2401.md?p=a-10) sought to be protected. The application shall be made in writing to the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2), shall be signed by or on behalf of the applicant, and shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
- (b) An error as to the naming of the [breeder](/usc/7/2401.md?p=a-3), without deceptive intent, may be corrected at any time, in accordance with regulations established by the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–577, title II, § 51, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1548.)