The 4th Meeting of the Twinning Project Steering Committee

The fourth meeting of the Steering Committee of the EU funded Twinning Project on “Establishing Efficient Protection and Control System of Geographical Indications (GIs) in Georgia” (GE/16 ENI EC 0318) 

Today, on March 2, 2020, the fourth meeting of the Steering Committee of the EU funded Twinning Project on “Establishing Efficient Protection and Control System of Geographical Indications (GIs) in Georgia” (GE/16 ENI EC 0318) took place at the Head Office of the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia Sakpatenti.

During the meeting the implemented activities/works and future plans were discussed. The significance of the works carried out from the launching of the Project to the present day was stressed. Within the Project, a number of drafts of legislative acts, the Action Plan for the development of the geographical indications system, various guidelines, and other documents were prepared. The activities envisaged since the  beginning of the Project to the present period were fulfilled completely. 

Within the meeting, the Quarterly Reports and the Action Plan for the next 6 months from February 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020 were signed.  At the Project implementation stage, the needs of the public agencies and producers associations involved in the Project, were identified. Based on the above-mentioned assessment, the following Action plan incorporates tailored trainings, workshops, certification simulations and various activities. In addition, attention was focused on two potential Georgian geographical indications – Rachan Ham and Gurjaani peach, and the next Action Plan includes drafting their product specifications.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the European Union, the Project leaders, representatives of various offices participating in the Project, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture, the Revenue Service, the Investigation Service, the Monitoring Agency and representatives of the Embassies of France and Italy in Georgia. 

The Project aims to facilitate development of the geographical indications and appellations of origin system in Georgia and its harmonization with the European Union system of GI protection. It also envisages creation of the administrative and institutional mechanisms, which will strengthen the capacity and deepen the knowledge in the given field, and increasing of the role of producers associations and unions in the development of the GIs protection system.