BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 8
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
The European Union (EU) launched a new project in Georgia aiming at establishing an efficient protection and control system of Geographical Indications (GIs) in Georgia, Trend reports via the EU.
This twinning project will promote effective quality policies related to geographical indications, to support fair competition and protection of GIs, improving current situations to benefit the population of Georgia.
GIs link products to their geographical origin. Georgia has over 40 registered GIs including Sulguni, Chacha and Churchkhela.
With a budget of 1.5 million euro, the project is being implemented by national authorities of EU Member States - Italy and France.
The beneficiary of the project is the National Intellectual Property Centre of Georgia.
The project will run until January 2021 and is implemented by the Italian Ministry of Agricultural Food Forestry Policies and the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
“The issue of geographical indications has been on the agenda of the EU in Georgia for many years now, and with good reason - GIs are both a way to allow Georgia to trade on the basis of its primary strengths to the large EU market, but also a means to effectively safeguard its unique production methods and cultural traditions. I am happy that the project launched today will be implemented by two EU champions in the field of GI, Italy and France. It's difficult to imagine better partners,” Carl Hartzell, EU Ambassador to Georgia said.
The EU expects that the project will harmonies the Georgian GI legal framework with that of the EU, strengthen the role played by the Georgian authorities and GI Producers’ Associations and establish an effective control system on GIs.
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