Geographical Indications as a Development Tool

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Geographical Indications as a Development Tool

• David Thual
• Secretary General of OriGIn
• Mombasa, 15 December 2004

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ORganization for an International Geographical
Indications Network

• The International network of GI producers
• Around 70 organisations of producers
• More than 1 million producers of traditional
  products represented!
• 30 countries (Asia, Africa, Asia, Latin and
  North America, Eastern and Western Europe)

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Whos Who in
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Main goals

• Promote Geographical Indications as a
  development tool and means to protecting local
  knowledge
• Lobby for a better protection of GIs at
  national, regional international levels

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What is a Geographical Indication?

• A tool to protect goods that have

Specific geographical origin

• Qualities
• Reputation
• Other characteristics

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Examples of GIs
Basmati rice, Ceylon tea, Roquefort cheese, Chuao
cacao, Parma ham, Antigua coffee, Tequila,
Champagne, Napa Valley wines, etc.
Food products
Gothati tea, Argane oil, Guinean pineapples,
Mananara vanilla, shea butter from Burkina Faso
Other traditional products
Kilim carpets, Thai silk, etc. Korhogo fabrics
(Ivory Coast)
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Geographical Indications a key development tool

• GIs a tool to promote rural development
• GIs a market access tool
• GIs a tool to protect local know-how and
  natural resources

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GIs a means to increase production and create
local jobsEx Lentilles vertes du Puy (F)
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GIs a means to obtain premium price
French Wine price (2) /l
Nuoc Mam from Phu Quoc Vietnam price (2) /l
P.D.O.
Other wines
2000
2003
? 230
? 300
GI Protection obtained in 2001
(2) Based on exports 99-2001
Source MAAPAR, ONIVINS, CFCE, INAO
Source BNIC, UNDP
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GIs a better redistribution of the added value
Milk purchasing price to producer (2002)
90
35
30
15
5
? Compared to medium price
-
Brie de Meaux
Comté
National average 2002
Beaufort
Reblochon
Maroilles
Source INRA, INAO
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GIs bring added value to the land

• Ex Huile dolive de Nyons (F)
• Value of the land dedicated to GI olive oil
  increased 2 faster
• than the value of the land used for non-GI olive
  oil

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GIs have a positive impact on tourism

• Moroccan Tamanar Argan Oil cooperative more than
  100 visitors/day
•  Rutas Alimentarias  in Patagonia (Argentina)
• Wine routes in Italy
• Museums dedicated to Gis
• Towards tea and coffee routes in Kenya?

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GI a market access tool

• GIs encourage variety and diversity of production
• GIs promote quality and added-value production
• GIs allow producers to market differentiated and
  clearly identifiable products

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GI a market access tool

• Fact
• 40 of European consumers
• are ready to pay a
• 10 premium price
• for origin-guaranteed products
• (survey 1999)

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GIs a tool to preserve local know-how and
natural resources

• GIs prevents the standardization of food
• Wider choice for consumers
• Preservation of biodiversity
• GIs protect traditions and cultures
• contribution to social cohesion
• positive role on local and national
  identity

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• Why are Geographical Indications an
• ideal tool to
• protect and promote development?

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GIs are different from trademarks
Trademarks Area of production not relevant Can
be sold Emphasis on the company who owns
them Protection only available to the company
that owns the brand
Geographical indications Production rooted in a
region Cannot be sold Emphasis on the origin of
the product Protection available to all
producers of the area who meet the standards
?
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GIs an ideal tool to protect local value

• GI protection prevents the relocation of
  production
• GI protection available to all producers of the
  area who meet recognized standards
• GIs probably only form of intellectual property
  that local communities can own
• - Collective right
• - Allow for the protection of existing products
• - Do not require local communities to innovate

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• Geographical Indications
• play a key role in
• promoting the development
• of many regions
• around the world

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But, GIs are not enough protected

• Abuses jeopardize the positive role that GIs play
  towards local communities
• Abuses have a strong negative impact on both
  producers and consumers

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GI Quizz!

• Basmati Rice
• Parma Ham
• Roquefort cheese
• Tequila
• Cognac
• Champagne

USA Canada New Zealand Israel Armenia USA
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Priorities

• Promote GIs as a development tool throughout the
  world
• Facilitate exchange of information between
  producers
• Create partnerships between producers
• Secure better protection of GIs
• WTO additional protection (extension) and
  register for all GI products
• Bilateral agreements

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Conclusion

Geographical Indications need to be better
protected. If not, their contribution to the
development will be in jeopardy!
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Thank you very much
www.origin-gi.com
info_at_origin-gi.com