ASEAN Regional Seminar on Geographical Indications

An ASEAN Regional seminar on Geographical Indications took place in Makaty, Philippines from 28 to 29 November 2016 within the framework of the EU-ASEAN Project on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (ECAP III).The seminar was attended by officials in charge of geographical indications from the ASEAN IP Offices together with a representative of the ASEAN Secretariat.

 This activity aimed at providing for a regional platform for the exchange of information and best practices concerning GI protection and control systems and dissemination of information on geographical indications among SMEs and government officials.

 The seminar was conducted by one EUIPO expert, the ECAP III Project Leader and the project IP expert, and also counted on the participation of a WIPO expert as regards the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement and the Head of Trade of the EUD in PH concerning the IP issues in the FTA (Free Trade Agreements) with the EU.The two-day seminar included control mechanisms to assure the quality of GIs registered in ASEAN. They agreed to continue cooperating to improve the protection of GIs in ASEAN countries and to continue updating the ASEAN GI Database, which will be managed by Indonesia after the project end.