{autotoc option1=value1|option2=value2|…|optionN=valueN}
oriGIn: New Prestigious Members Join oriGIn
We are glad to announce that this summer 5 new members have joined our international network: The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), the industry trade body in charge of the protection and promotion of the GI “Scotch Whisky”, The “Istituto Salumi Italiani Tutelati” (ISIT), the body of Italian Consortia of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) salami, the “Consejo Mexicano Regulador de la Calidad del Mezcal” (COMERCAM), the body in charge of the protection and promotion of the GI “Mezcal”, the Local Products and Geographical Indications Research Network (YÜciTA) of Turkey, the Turkish GIs academic research network, the Tamil Nadu Technology Development & Promotion Centre (TNTDPC), a centre supporting the growth of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises in India, which works with local non-agricultural GIs.
This confirms that unity is strength. More and more GI groups and other institutions from different countries and sectors are joining forces to ensure that GIs are recognised and effectively protected internationally.
“Bilaterals”: Agreement on GIs Between Switzerland and Jamaica
The Agreement between Switzerland and Jamaica on GIs – concluded in 2013 – entered in to force on 1 September 2014. With the overall objective to promote trade, the parties have agreed to mutually recognize and protect GIs – as well as to fight counterfeiting – in their respective jurisdictions.
The Agreement confers GIs a strong level of protection that goes beyond the minimum level of the Art.22 of the TRIPS Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Country names and emblems of both parties are also protected under the agreement, reflecting the interest of Jamaica and Switzerland in fighting against the use of their country names on products with no association with the country of origin. This is also in line with the Swiss legislative reform “Swissness”, adopted in June 2013, aimed at improving the protection of the “made in Switzerland” and the Swiss cross at a national and international level (See https://www.ige.ch/en/herkunftsangaben/swissness.html).
The text of the Agreement is available (FR-DE-IT) @ http://www.admin.ch/opc/it/classified-compilation/20132547/index.html
More information @ http://www.admin.ch/aktuell/00089/index.html?lang=en&msg-id=54261
Legal: 5th GI for Coffee Granted in Colombia
On 2 September, the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce of Colombia (SIC) granted protection to “Café de Santander”, which became the 5th GI to be recognized for a coffee product in Colombia. The application was submitted by the “Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia” in the framework of its strategy of defence, protection and differentiation of “Café de Colombia” and its regional varieties.
Santander is a department of Colombia located in the central northern part of the country, where the coffee tradition started in 1774. The characteristics of the soils in the region such as the human, cultural and traditional component, are reflected in the practices of crop care, harvesting and processing which make “Café de Santander” unique. The traditional production system facilitates the slow development of the fruit and accumulation of sugars that allow the fruit harvesting in its optimum maturity. The “Café de Santander” is clean and balanced in cup with medium body – high; medium acidity, with sweet flavours, herbal, fruit and light citrus sensations.
More information (only in Spanish) @ Café de Santander reconocido como Denominación de origen por la SIC
EU: The New EU Commission
On 10 September, the President-elect of the EU Commission Mr. Juncker announced the members of his team. Among the most relevant portfolios for the GI sector, Mr. Phil Hogan, Ireland’s Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government from March 2011 to July 2014, has been appointed Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development and Ms. Elżbieta Bieńkowska, currently Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister, Commissioner for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs.
The European Parliament will have to confirm Mr. Juncker’s choices at the next month’s plenary session to be held in Strasbourg, with the new Commissioners expected to take up their new roles by the 1st of November.
More information @ http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-984_en.htm
Members: The 2nd edition of the “Marché des Saveurs et Artisans” in Martigny (Switzerland)
From 6 to 8 December 2014, the “Marché des Saveurs et Artisans” will take place at the Conference and Exhibition Center (CERM) of Martigny (Switzerland). More information @ www.fvsgroup.ch/fr/nos-manifestations/marche-saveurs-artisans-0-12
A special focus will be this year on GIs, with a large participation of Swiss AOP/IGP. Likewise, the Valais Chamber of Agriculture has invited oriGIn as “Guest of Honour” and will make available – free of charge – a stand where our members can promote the GIs they represent.
If you are interested in participating, please contact ida@origin-gi.com
