On June 11, 2026, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova approved in the second reading the Draft Law on Geographical Indications, Traditional Specialties Guaranteed and Optional Quality Terms. The new law was developed to strengthen the national normative framework and harmonize it with European Union legislation, in order to ensure increased protection for domestic products designated with quality indications and terms.

In the development process, the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) benefited from the advisory support provided by expert Dariusz Goszczyński, within the framework of the “Swiss PartnershIP Moldova Project”.

The development of the project is a national priority, being included in the National Program for the Accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union for the years 2025–2029, approved by Government Decision No 306/2025, Chapter 7 “Intellectual Property Law”.

The new law will ensure:

• increasing the sustainability of the local food system by integrating specific sustainability criteria;
• new opportunities for producers and producer groups in more efficient management of assets related to geographical indications, thus encouraging the development of structures and partnerships within the food supply chain;
• increasing the correct perception of the market and raising consumer awareness of the systems and symbols for designating products with geographical indications, in order to allow consumers to make informed choices;
• strengthening the legal framework in order to simplify and harmonize the procedures for submitting applications for registration of new appellations and amending the product specification.

At the same time, the normative act ensures:

• full transposition of Directive 2004/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the enforcement of intellectual property rights;
• partial transposition of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023 on the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products;
• partial transposition of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, as well as traditional specialities guaranteed and optional quality terms for agricultural products.

By adopting this normative act, the Republic of Moldova fulfills the commitments assumed in the process of accession to the European Union and consolidates the premises for promoting local products with added value, contributing to local economic development, protecting traditional heritage and increasing the competitiveness of Moldovan products on national and international markets.

The Draft Law on Geographical Indications, Traditional Specialties Guaranteed and Optional Quality Terms was approved by the Government on April 1, 2026, adopted in the first reading by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova on April 24, 2026 and will enter into force on April 2, 2027.