PH-France Sign Memorandum of Cooperation on Geographic Indications

From left to right: Mr. Alexandre LEVY (INAO), Director Marie Guittard (INAO), Director-General Rowel S. Barba (IPOPHIL) and Director Jesus Antonio Z. Ros (IPOPHIL) sign the Philippines-France Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on Geographic Indications.) (Photo Credit: Atty. Kat Rivera)

PARIS, 02 August 2022 – The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) Director-General Rowel S. Barba and the French National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO) Director Marie Guittard signed a Philippines-France Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) aimed at promoting agricultural and food geographical indications as an intellectual property that may be utilized to enhance competitive advantage of food and agricultural products, strengthen market position, and contribute to overall economic growth and national development on 27 July 2022.

This landmark MOC, signed as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations, will pave the way for increased cooperation in capacity-building and sharing of best practices, among others, with the end in view of facilitating the registration of Philippine and French geographical indications. 

A geographical indication (GI), as defined by the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO), is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that is due to that origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating from a given place. In addition, the qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product should be essentially due to the place of origin. Since the qualities depend on the geographical place of production, there is a clear link between the product and its original place of production. END 

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) Director-General Rowel S. Barba (right) and the French National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO) Director Marie Guittard (left). (Photos Courtesy of Atty. Kat Rivera)

For more information, visit  https://www.parispe.dfa.gov.ph, http://www.facebook.com/PHinFrance, https://twitter.com/PHinFrance, or https://www.instagram.com/phinfrance/.