page 12 The entry of varieties, seed and seedlings and the approval of their production or propagation, together with the entry of applications and new plant variety certificates in the relevant catalogues shall be subject to payment of a fee of which the amount and conditions of payment and utilization shall be laid down by decree. In addition, after entry, new plant variety certificates shall be subject to the payment of an annual fee of which the amount and conditions of payment and utilization shall be laid down by decree. Article 48 Contracts for assignment and exploitation of new plant variety certificates shall be registered subject to a fixed fee. Article 49 Contrary to the provisions of Article 2, item 4, of this Law and for a period of one year as from the entry into force of the latter, the protection of plant varieties offered for marketing or already marketed or distributed inside or outside the country may be requested. Where protection is granted, the period that has elapsed between the time at which the plant variety concerned was offered for marketing, marketed or distributed for the first time and the time at which the application for protection was filed shall be deducted from the term of protection. Article 50 Law No. 76-113 of 25 November 1976 on the organization, inspection of production and of marketing of seed and seedlings is hereby repealed. This Law shall be published in the Official Journal of the Tunisian Republic and executed as a law of the State.