---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2443"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2443"
heading: "Initial appeal"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2443"
units:
  - "Chapter 57 — Plant Variety Protection"
  - "Subchapter II — Protectability of Plant Varieties and Certificates of Protection"
  - "Part F — Examinations; Response Time; Initial Appeals"
---

# §2443. Initial appeal


When an application for plant [variety](/usc/7/2401.md?p=a-10) protection has been refused by the Plant [Variety](/usc/7/2401.md?p=a-10) Protection Office, the applicant may appeal to the [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2). The [Secretary](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-2) shall seek the advice of the Plant [Variety](/usc/7/2401.md?p=a-10) Protection Board on all appeals, before deciding the appeal.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–577, title II, § 63, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1550.)