The first meeting of the for Republic of Moldova - Georgia Joint Committee on Geographical Indications, established in accordance with the Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and Georgia on Mutual Recognition and Protection of Geographical Indications (GIs), signed in Tbilisi, Georgia, on February 1, 2023, was held on April 5, 2024.

The meeting was organized in videoconference format and was chaired by Natalia Mogol, Deputy Director General of the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI). The Republic of Moldova was represented in the committee by representatives of AGEPI, the institution responsible for implementing in our country the provisions of the Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and Georgia on Mutual Recognition and Protection of Geographical Indications, as well as by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry Agriculture and Food Industry and the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization.

According to its mandate, the Republic of Moldova-Georgia Joint Committee on Geographical Indications is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Agreement on Mutual Recognition and Protection of Geographical Indications and serves as a platform for cooperation and dialogue on GIs between Georgia and the Republic of Moldova.

Thus, the participants of the first meeting discussed and agreed the rules of procedure of the Joint Committee, carrying out an exchange of information on the latest developments recorded in the geographical indications system of the Republic of Moldova and, respectively, of Georgia. The changes and updates to be made to the lists of geographical indications in the two countries were also discussed.

The parties appreciated the results of the first meeting of the Republic of Moldova - Georgia Joint Committee on Geographical Indications, showing their willingness to strengthen their efforts to expand bilateral collaboration in the reference field for the benefit of producers and consumers of products of determined origin from both countries.

We should mention that at the moment, according to the Agreement, 10 geographical indications from the Republic of Moldova benefit from protection in Georgia. Respectively, 46 geographical indications from Georgia 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).