In Germany, the Bundessortenamt (BSA) is responsible for the approval and testing of plant varieties.

If you want your breeding result to be approved as a variety, you must apply to the BSA. The BSA first carries out a register examination. In general, varieties must be

• homogeneous in themselves,
• be distinguishable from existing varieties and
• be stable.

In the case of agricultural plant species, the so-called "land cultural value" of the registered variety is also determined in the course of a value test.
A variety has a land cultural value if, in the totality of its value-determining characteristics, it can be expected to bring about a clear improvement for plant cultivation, the utilization of the harvested crop or the utilization of products obtained from the harvested crop compared to the approved comparable varieties. Individual unfavorable characteristics may be compensated by other favorable characteristics.

Value testing requires at least 2 years of test cultivation for most species, and 3 years for cereals, winter oilseed rape and forage crops. Depending on the plant species, the tests are set up at 10 to 20 locations of the BSA, the states, the growers' companies, as well as other institutions.

After completion of the register and value test, a variety committee (3 members) of the BSA decides whether the variety will be granted variety approval and included in the variety list.

Once approval has been granted in Germany, the variety is included in the Community Catalogue of Varieties and is thus approved throughout the European Union.