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#FAO #Study: Strengthening sustainable food systems through GIs
Earlier this month, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) published a study on “Strengthening sustainable food systems through geographical indications” .
The study analyzes the economic impact of a selected number of GIs: Colombian coffee, Darjeeling tea (India), Futog cabbage (Serbia), Kona coffee (Hawaii, United States), Manchego cheese (Spain), Penja pepper (Cameroon), Taliouine saffron (Morocco), Tête de Moine cheese (Switzerland) and Vale dos Vinhedos wine (Brazil). The study confirms the existence of a positive economic impact in all the 9 cases analyzed. The value added ranges from 4% (Tête de Moine cheese on the domestic market, although it is up to 57% on the export markets), to more than 120% (Penja pepper) and 500% (Taliouine).
oriGIs is a partner of the FAO in the project aimed at supporting GIs to respond to sustainability challenges
#EU #Iceland: Agreement on the protection of GIs for agricultural products entered in to force
On 1 May 2018, the Agreement on the protection of GIs for agricultural products between the EU and Iceland entered into force (together with the one on the further liberalisation of trade in agriculture).
The GIs Agreement provides protection to 1150 agri-food EU GIs listed in Annex II (additions to the GIs lists are allowed). The level of protection is solid, specifically against:
- any direct or indirect commercial use of a protected name: (i) for comparable products not compliant with the product specification of the protected name, or (ii) if such use exploits the reputation of a geographical indication;
- any misuse, imitation or evocation, even if the true origin of the product is indicated or if the protected name is translated, transcribed, transliterated or accompanied by an expression such as ‘style’, ‘type’, ‘method’, ‘as produced in’, ‘imitation’, ‘flavour’, ‘like’ or similar;
- any other false or misleading indication as to the provenance, origin, nature or essential qualities of the product, on the inner or outer packaging, advertising material or documents relating to the product concerned, and the packing of the product in a container liable to convey a false impression as to its origin;
- any other practice liable to mislead the consumer as to the true origin of the product.
Moreover, coexistence between GIs and prior trademarks is allowed (art. 6.5) and administrative enforcement is provided (art. 7).
The protection of European wines and spirits GIs in Iceland is provided under the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement).
#Australia #NewZealand #EU: Launch of trade negotiations including GIs
On 22 May, the Council of the European Union authorised the Commission to launch negotiations for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Australia and New Zealand. The first round of talks will take place in Brussels in July. More information @ http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-3881_en.htm
As GIs will be a sensitive issue in the framework of negotiations, oriGIn will follow its developments and make sure the rights of GIs groups will be taken into account.
