The Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and Georgia on Mutual Recognition and Protection of Geographical Indications, signed in Tbilisi on February 1, 2023, entered into force.
The negotiations on the Agreement were initiated by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Moldova No. 415-VIII of October 30, 2017, and its actual signing was approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Moldova No. 756-IX of December 22, 2022.
The State Agency on Intellectual Property was actively involved in the process of negotiating the text of the Agreement, in the elaboration of the lists of geographical indications from the Republic of Moldova, the protection of which is to be ensured on the basis of the Agreement. Also, the geographical indications submitted by Georgia were submitted to public consultations in the Republic of Moldova, so that interested persons could submit objections or proposals.
The agreement in question establishes a safe and effective mechanism for the protection of geographical indications registered by the signatory parties. Based on the Agreement, geographical indications will be submitted for mutual recognition and protection, which will be subsequently registered by each party. The agreement will provide domestic producers with the necessary legal framework to access new foreign markets, while also serving to ensure a high level of protection for consumers.
According to the Agreement, 10 geographical indications of the Republic of Moldova will benefit from protection in Georgia. Respectively 46 geographical indications from Georgia will benefit from protection in the Republic of Moldova.
The list of geographical indications of Georgia, protected according to the Agreement, can be accessed in the database “Geographical Indications, Appellations of Origin, Traditional Specialties Guaranteed” (http://www.db.agepi.md/GeogrIndications/SearchGI.aspx).
The full text of the Agreement in Romanian and English can be viewed at the following link: https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc_id=136687&lang=ro
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