New traditional Moldovan products perspective for business development, export have been identified and in the near future are going to obtain the protection as Geographical Indications (GI). These were identified in a study, elaborated by the experts of the EU Project "Support to Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights" in the Republic of Moldova in partnership with AGEPI. The results of the study were presented today in a Workshop entitled "The role of traditional products with geographical indications in business development in Moldova and the EU".

At the basis of the study, have been the results of the national campaign to identify products, drinks and dishes specific to certain geographical regions, which could be promoted as a Geographical Indication or as Traditional Specialties Guaranteed (TSG), which was carried out between August and October 2017. The three economic and agro-pedological areas of the Republic of Moldova (North, Center and South), 33 districts, UTAG and the Chisinau and Balti municipalities had been analysed by experts. As a result, 71 products, beverages, dishes and handicrafts articles were identified, of which 55 are agricultural and agri-food products, and 16 were handicrafts articles. From this list, the registration process as an IG has already been initiated for 7 products. These products are: Kaurma (sheepmeat product), Mangura goat cheese, Honey from Codru, Honey from Codrii Tigheciului and Honey mousse with forest berries, Fruit pistil, dried red peppercorn spice.

The barriers and opportunities for developing a GI product business in our country, as well as their export potential in EU markets, was also highlighted at the Workshop. According to EU Project experts, the GI sector is dominated by micro enterprises, small and medium enterprises or craftsmen, with a tendency to associate them in agricultural cooperatives and producer associations.

Representatives from the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, ANSA, Centre for Applied Metrology and Certification, CCI, Experts of the EU Project "Support to Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights" in the Republic of Moldova and about 20 producers attended the Workshop.

The technical assistance project EuropeAid/137467/DH/SER/MD "Support to enforcement of the intellectual property rights” was launched in November 2016, with a two-year implementation period, one of the basic objectives being the improvement of the geographical indication system in the Republic of Moldova.