Geographical Indications (GIs) in ACP countries: a tool for sustainable development? - Seminar Legal Aspects of Trade Policies

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Forum Discussions Seminar Legal A... Geographical Indications (GIs) in ACP countries: a tool for sustainable development?

24/09/2009 17:45

	admtradecom
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Geographical Indications (GIs) in ACP countries: a tool for sustainable development?

Geographical Indications (GIs) in ACP countries: a tool for sustainable development?

Geographical Indications, or GIs, find their origin in Europe, and thus have long been considered a European phenomenon. Indeed in Europe the certification is the most developed, woith over 5000 GIs recorded. Recent studies conducted in the EU demonstrate the ability of GI registrations to create economic value and distribute a considerable share of this value to the producers in the concerned rural areas. In contrast to a trademark, which is a private good, a GI is a public good associated to a given territory. The benefits of this added value are numerous, including social and environmental enhancement of the regions concerned through creation of employment and valorization of the land. A motivated community combined to traditional, environmentally friendly production practices are a sure recipe toward sustainable development. The question remains whether ACP countries are prepared and willing to take on the challenge, seen as setting up the institutional and legal frameworks to sustain such a tool is no easy task. Of late, the position of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in the EU market has weakened considerably. The EU is importing less ACP products following a marked decline in trade preferences awarded to ACP nations, who are losing their market shares to bigger economies like Brazil and China. Competition is amplified by the European market reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, which places an emphasis on quality rather than quantity.

This is where GIs are seen as a tool for differentiation and valorization, linking reputation and quality to a given area, could they represent a real opportunity for development of ACP economies?

Carlotta Ridolfi