The Fourth Regional Consultation on Geographical Indications in Europe and Central Asia was held on December 11, 2023, in online format. The event was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in cooperation with the Organization for an International Geographical Indications Network (OriGIn).

More than 100 participants from countries such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Kyrgyzstan took part in this initiative. Representatives of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the National Institute of Origin and Quality of the French Republic (INAO) were also present.

The consultation included presentations that addressed key topics such as the importance and organization of control in the field of geographical indications, marketing strategies and their operationalization, as well as the latest progress in participating countries in Europe and Central Asia.

An important moment of the event was the presentation of the Sustainability Strategy for Geographical Indications (GIs) by the OriGIn representative. He gave explanations regarding the implementation of various projects aimed at contributing to the development of geographical indications.

All communications, including that of the Republic of Moldova presented by Simion Levițchi, head of the Trademarks and Industrial Design Department of the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), can be viewed here: on the oriGIn website.

In addition, information was presented on useful resources such as the oriGIn worldwide GI compilation - a comprehensive source for searching worldwide information on protected geographical indications (updated regularly but possibly not exhaustive) and cooperative activities between FAO and OriGIn in the field of geographical indications and sustainability (FAO/oriGIn cooperation activities on GIs and Sustainability).

Participation in such events is essential to share and promote best practices, considering the importance of geographical indications in the context of promoting the participating countries, including the Republic of Moldova.