On 4 September, the Australian Government launched a second round of public consultations on GIs. This gives Australian producers, businesses and consumers a three-month window (until the 30 November) to provide comments on a possible future national GIs framework. Australia has already a legal framework for GIs wines and is debating the possibility to establish one for other products, also in light of the FTA negotiations with the EU. For more information on this debate, please read an article by Prof. Paula Zito of the University of Adelaide, we have published last year on our Alert.
In announcing this consultations, the Australian Government stressed that market access for Australian agricultural products remains its priority in the FTA negotiations with the EU. To date Australia and the EU have undergone seven rounds of negotiations with the next to be held in mid-September. For more information on this, please consult oriGIn study on Bilateral Agreements covering GIs between the EU and its trade partners.
