page 7 The public establishment alone shall be entitled to file a request for entry of the new plant variety in the national catalogue referred to in Article 18 of this Law. Article 27 In the event of joint ownership of a new plant variety certificate, the provisions of the code of rights in rem concerning joint ownership shall be applied. CHAPTER III TRANSFER AND LOSS OF RIGHTS Article 28 The rights relating to an application for a new plant variety certificate or to a new plant variety certificate may be transferred in whole or in part. Transfer of rights in whole or in part shall be established in writing on pain of absolute nullity.