How to maintain the protection of a plant variety?

For vines, forest trees and fruit trees, including their rootstocks, the protection is granted for 20 years and for other species the protection is granted for 15 years from the date of granting.
Nevertheless, in order to maintain the protection, an annuity fee must be paid within the first 3 months of the year. Otherwise, the National Authority will declare the lapse of the registration.