Protecting geographical indications to enhance local specialty value chains
With a country with many advantages in agricultural products, but the post-harvest deep processing industry has not developed as strongly as Vietnam, geographical indications have become one of the important factors to help improve the supply agricultural value chain.
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Luc Ngan lychee and Binh Thuan dragon fruit were protected as geographical indications in Japan in the top 10 science and technology events in 2021.
The result of years of hard work
In 2021-2022, good news continuously comes to Vietnam's agricultural product industry when Luc Ngan lychee (Bac Giang), then Binh Thuan dragon fruit officially become the first products of Vietnam to be protected under the geographical indication in Japan. The fact that Vietnamese products are protected by geographical indications in the "difficult" market is of great significance. In addition to the role of protecting trademarks for agricultural products, avoiding the "stolen" trademarks when going to foreign markets, products bearing geographical indications in foreign countries often have higher selling prices than usual and they are sold by people in foreign countries that trust and like.
Those typical GI protected products among the 116 protected GIs are the result of many years' efforts by local S&T management agencies and the National Office of Intellectual Property. With the diversity of ecological conditions, traditions and production experiences of different ethnic groups, rural areas in Vietnam have advantages in producing and supplying many typical local agricultural products.
The use of geographical names/signs of geographical origin to register local specialty products means that these products are associated with the reputation and quality of that region. This is the direction that many countries around the world are applying to limit reputation abuse, combat infringements and unfair competition in the market, and improve product value.
After all, the registration for protection of geographical indications is actually just the first stage. It is important that after registration is complete, how farmers, businesses, local authorities, managers will maintain quality assurance for the sustainable development of this product – that is the key in the journey to improve the position of Vietnam's agricultural products./.
ctngoc