Protecting Geographical Indications

6 March 2019, Washington, DC – The World Food Law Institute and FAO North America cohosted an informative discussion about Geographical Indications (GIs) for food. The discussion explored how certifications, controls, and legal systems are used to address the growing and costly problem of fraud, usurpation of names, and consumer deception regarding GIs.

After welcoming remarks by Professor Marsha Echols, Director of the World Food Law Institute and opening remarks by Vimlendra Sharan, Director of FAO North America, the discussion began with background information from Florence Tartanac, Senior FAO Officer at the Market Linkages and Value Chains Group, and Emilie Vandecandelaere, Technical Unit Officer in the Nutrition & Food Systems Division at FAO.

Tartanac explained how food fraud undermines possibilities for local development and prevents public awareness of the true characteristics of products bearing Geographical Indications, among other negative results. Vandecandelaere described FAO’s extensive experience with certifications, controls, legal systems, and the institutional structures that include certification, controls, and legal structures used to address and prevent the harm that fraud causes to GI holders and local development.

The FAO remarks were followed by two attorneys who shared their insights on controls and certifications. Elio De Tullio, Partner of De Tullio Law Firm based in Rome, shared his experience with the law and legal structures in the EU and Italy in particular. He provided findings from the report, “Protection and control of Geographical Indications for agricultural products in the EU Member States.” Robert Schramm of Schramm, Williams and Associates, Inc., based in Washington, DC described the U.S. use of controls and other legal instruments at federal and state levels.

A lively discussion and Q&A session followed the presentations. Professor Echols concluded the roundtable, noting that the event enriched appreciation of “Geographical Indications (GIs) and Local Development,” the theme for this year’s roundtable series.

Read more on FAO’s Quality and Origin Program here.