The second meeting of the Geographical Indications (GI) Sub-Committee between the Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland took place on December 7, this year.

The meeting was organized in videoconference format and was chaired by Simon Crabbe, Head of Geographical Indications and Alcoholic Drinks Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the part of Great Britain and on the part of the Republic of Moldova 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, as well as of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry.

The agenda of the meeting included discussions and the approval of the Rules of Procedure of the Sub-Committee, as well as an exchange of information regarding the recent developments registered in the system of geographical indications in the Republic of Moldova and Great Britain. The participants also discussed the changes and updates made to the lists of geographical indications in the two countries, in the period after the first meeting of July 20, 2021. The parties also established follow-up actions, outlining the concrete steps and responsibilities of each party in further implementation and consolidation of cooperation in the field of geographical indications.

The GI Sub-Сommittee was established in accordance with Article 276 of the Strategic Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, signed in Chisinau on December 24, 2020 and provisionally entered into force on January 1, 2021 .

According to its mandate, the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Agreement in the field of geographical indications and serves as a platform for cooperation and dialogue on GI matters between the Great Britain and the Republic of Moldova.