ECAP III Regional Workshop on the Control of Geographical Indications (GIs)
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- Category: News
- Published on Thursday, 08 September 2011 03:27
- Written by Super User
During the ECAP II Programme, substantial progress in developing Geographical Indications (GIs) was accomplished in the ASEAN region . With the exception of the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam and Myanmar, all ASEAN countries have now enacted a GI sui generis legislation or are in the process of doing so
(Cambodia, Lao PDR).
In addition, countries have engaged in the registration of national GIs (over 50 GIs have already been registered ). However, GI remains a relatively new IPR in ASEAN. The “top-down” strategy adopted in ASEAN to develop GI systems has produced interesting results, but challenges remain. In particular
improvements are needed in the area of GI controls (internal and external) and in involving producer associations and other stakeholders for the sustainable development of GIs. It has become crucial for the development of GI in the region to enable GI stakeholders to consolidate the existing systems and to set up or improve efficient GI control mechanisms in line with international standards, in view of ensuring GI traceability and that the quality of GI products satisfies the expectation of domestic and foreign consumers.Within this framework, the ASEAN Project on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (ECAP III), in close co-operation with the Department of Intellectual Property of Thailand and the French Authorities, held a four-days Regional Workshop on the Control of Geographical Indications on 24 – 27 January 2011, Bangkok - Thailand (Activity C3.1.AW1.ASEAN).
The workshop supported over 50 participants from ASEAN countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) to increase their understanding and awareness on the role that GI control mechanisms play in GIs’ promotion and protection and on issues regarding accreditation systems, ISO 65 compliance, GIs control systems and procedures in Europe, internal and external control mechanisms, producer associations’ role in the controlling process, as well as on the current status of GIs accreditation and control systems in ASEAN countries.
European experts from INAO (French National Institute of Origin and Quality) and COFRAC (French Accreditation Body) as well as Bio Agricert (Certification Body) and Bio Agricoop from Italy, delivered detailed presentations and promoted the exchange of information and the implementation of GI control systems based on European experience and international standards as well as discussed on best practices in the dialogue between private certification bodies and producers association.
The event offered to the participants the opportunity for exchanging information on control procedures covering both internal and external control procedures as well as understand the roles of various GI control stake-holders (Accreditation Bodies, Competent Authorities, Certification Bodies, GI Producer associations, operators, etc.) in the various step of the control. The workshop also promoted the development of national and regional consultation and the possible development of action plans for the establishment and implementation of GI control systems in relevant ASEAN countries.
Please find the programme, presentations, list of participants and pictures related to the event here.
Linked to the workshop, ECAP III organised a consultation on the GI control system in Thailand, which took place on 28 January 2011 at the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), Thai Ministry of Commerce , Nonthaburi. The consultation was hosted by Mrs Pajchima Tanasanti, Director General of the Department of Intellectual Property, and was organised in cooperation with the French Authorities. Experts from the COFRAC, the INAO, and ECAP III took part in the consultation, together with Thai stakeholders with a potential interest in the development of national GI control capacities in Thailand. Representatives of the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Delegation of the European Union in Thailand participated to ensure Donors’ coordination in Thailand and in the region. The agenda of the consultation meeting as well as the list of attendees could be found here below:
* Agenda of the Consultation Meeting on GI
* List of Attendees
Building on the conclusions of this consultation which identified the need to strenghen further the cooperation between relevant national stake-holders in Thailand involved in the protection, control and promotion of GI, a first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalising the cooperation on the implementation of Intellectual Property Rights was signed in Bangkok, on 3 May 2011, between the Thai Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) of the Ministry of Commerce and the Queen Sirikit Department of Sericulture of the Ministry of Agriculture. This MOU has for main objectives :
-to promote technical cooperation, integration and exchange of information on intellectual property, for the benefit of sericulture producers.
-to protect intellectual property rights and to promote creativity, with a view to create a mechanism that adds value to sericulture products.
-to maximize the efficiency in the examination and control of the geographical indication’s production process, to be in accordance with the registration and traceability.
In addition, and to foster cooperation with other GI initiatives, ASEAN Delegates attending the ECAP III Workshop were given the opportunity to attend the first meeting of the SCRIPT Project organised back to back with the Workshop on 28 January 2011. The SCRIPT Project, an EU funded initiative aims to promote Thai traditional products and to increase Thai trade potential through the implementation of the relevant control mechanism inspired by the EU approach.
