Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 on Community plant variety rights (OJ L 227/94, p.1) provides for a Community system of intellectual property protection for new plant varieties of the entire botanic kingdom. It lays down the conditions for the grant of Community plant variety rights, and the effects thereof. By contrast to any national system, it provides for a direct and uniform protection throughout the territory of the European Union. The Community system is operated by a Community Plant Variety Office, an autonomous body of the European Union. This Office is controlled by an Administrative Council which is composed of representatives of all Member States and of the Commission.