EU QUALITY POLICY ON GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS
With more than 3,000 agro-foodstuff products protected as Geographical Indications (GIs), recognized by means of three different ways as Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs), Protected Geographical Indication (PGIs) and Geographical Indications (GIs), the EU quality policy aims at protecting the names of specific products to promote their unique characteristics, linked to their geographical origin as well as traditional know-how.
Product names can be granted with a "Geographical Indication" if they have a specific link to the place where they are made. Indeed, the GI recognition generates several positive effects and enables at the same time:
- Consumers to trust and distinguish quality products while also helping producers to market their products better.
- A fair competition, since only producers complying with the specification may use a registered GI;
- The protection, because the use of a GI on the market place is controlled by control authorities/bodies:
- A price premium through the promotion carried out by GI producers, directly or by means of Producers’
Associations, may promote GIs in a better way both on domestic and international market;
- Social benefits since linking valuable products to rural areas means that the production cannot be Delocalized to another area;
- To reconnect consumers and producers;
- To protect traditions and ensure environmental benefits through linking traditional products with landscapes and farming systems.
Recognized as Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), GIs are legally protected against imitation, evocation and misuse within the EU and in non-EU countries where a specific protection agreement has been signed.
Such positive benefits and experiences achieved by the EU on GIs are now provided through the Twinning project GE 16 ENI EC 03 18 on "Establishing Efficient Protection and Control System of Geographical Indications (GIs) in Georgia".
THE TWINNING PROJECT’S OVERALL OBJECTIVE AND PURPOSE
The overall objective of the Twinning project (hereinafter also referred to as “the project”) is to support the development of “Appellations of Origin (AOs)” and “Geographical Indications (GIs)” systems in Georgia through the creation of effective supporting tools with the provisions of the European Union’s GIs protection system.
In this context, the specific objective is to assist National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia - Sakpatenti, together with other Georgian Institutions, to create legal, administrative and institutional mechanisms to enhance the GI protection and control systems and strengthen capacity of the national institutions to implement and adopt the European Union best practices. As in all other IP fields, Sakpatenti determines the policy in the field of GIs and as the main counterpart of these project has a longstanding experience in the development of GIs system in the country.
THE TWINNING PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DIRECT BENEFITS FOR GEORGIA
Developing a good GI system for wines, foodstuffs, spirit drinks and so on in Georgia is one of the best way to improve the living condition and safeguard the traditions of the Georgian rural population and the Country as a whole, to increase the access to Georgian quality products on international markets and raising their reputation at that level, as well as get consumers more confident about the quality of these products.
Georgia has long been aware of this, setting up its own GI system already by recognizing and protecting dozen of agro-foodstuff products as GIs.
Development and protection of intellectual property rights is one of the main priorities of the Government of Georgia. Paramount importance is granted to the protection and development of Geographical Indications in the country. The importance of geographical indications for Georgia is stipulated in many activities of the governmental institutions and is underlined in multilateral or bilateral agreements. It has to be highlighted that issues related to the protection of geographical indications are included in the agendas of all intergovernmental economic commissions with different countries.
Anyway, to take full advantage of the GI system, as well as exploit the huge GI potential In the Country, there is the need:
- To further strengthening the harmonization of Georgian GI legal framework with that of the EU;
- To strengthen the role played by GI Producers’ Associations;
- To complete and improve an effective and well-working control system, both on the side of certification controls and market controls: from “farm to (e) -retail”.
This Twinning helps Georgian Institutions to do this through three Components.
THE TWINNING PROJECT COMPONENTS
According to its objectives, the project includes the following components:
Component 1. Approximation of primary and secondary legislation related to Geographical Indications GIs in accordance with the relevant EU directives.
Component 2. Capacity building of relevant State authorities and private sector for enhancing and developing GI protection system.
Component 3. Organization of quality control system of GIs in line with the EU regulations and EU best practices.
PROJECT PARTNERS
Georgia
Main Beneficiary Institution: National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia - Sakpatenti
Consortium of EU Member States:
Italy: The Ministry of Agricultural Food and Forestry Policies (Mipaaf)
France: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAA).
DURATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE, BUDGET AND FUNDING
The implementation phase of the project started in February 2019 and will last for 24 months. The ENPI Twinning Budget is 1,500,000 Euro. The project is funded by the ENPI 2012 programme.