Commission on Geographical Indications is being Created in Georgia

National Commission on Geographical Indications - Entity responsible for registration of new geographical indications and appellation of origin and identification of their compliance with the legislation – is being set up in Georgia. The initiative is implemented within the EU funded Twinning Project on “Establishing Efficient Protection and Control System of Geographical Indications (GIs) in Georgia” (GE/16 ENI EC 0318), the main partner of which is the National Intellectual Property Centre of Georgia Sakpatenti. 

Commission, established for facilitation the proper functioning of the geographical indications system, will include the representatives of Sakpatenti and sectoral governmental agencies, and, if necessary, invited experts and other parties. 

The role and functions of the Commission will be analogous to those of the Commission of France, a leading country in this direction, the practice of which clearly demonstrates that within such a format the active involvement of all stakeholders of the system is possible.

To discuss the above-mentioned issue, two-day remote working meeting of the representatives of Sakpatenti, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and the National Wine Agency took place on January 20-21, 2021. The functions, competence and structure of the Commission and various significant issues related to applications were discussed at the meeting.

Twinning Project on “Establishing Efficient Protection and Control System of Geographical Indications (GIs) in Georgia” (GE/16 ENI EC 0318) aims to support the development of the system of geographical indications and appellations of origin system in Georgia and its harmonization with the GI protection system of the European Union. It also includes creation of administrative and institutional mechanisms, which will facilitate the capacity building and deepening of the knowledge in the given field. In addition, the project envisages increasing of the role of producers’ associations and unions in the development of the geographical indications system.

Geographical indication is the name of a geographical place, in exceptional cases, a sign which indicates a certain geographical area and is used to designate the goods the specific quality or reputation of which are attributable to that geographical area, which in its turn is due to the particular geographical environment and human factors.