Experts of the EU Project ”Support to Enforcement of the Intellectual Property Rights” in the Republic of Moldova have presented their recommendations for the improvement of the geographical indication system in the Republic of Moldova at a Working group meeting, which took place on June, 28, at AGEPI.

During the event, Mr. Yuriy Kapitsa, Key Expert of the EU Project announced the results of the "Geographical Indications" component. Since the beginning of the year, training activities have been implemented for both the public authorities and producer groups, including 4 awareness seminars for Moldovan producer associations in the horticulture, forest and forest fruits, dairy and meat, apiculture and table grape sectors. He also reported the results from the Analysis of the Geographical Indications system in Moldova, identification of the products which do or could benefit from protection of GI, consultancy support for registering Geographical Indications and Guides on GI product control.

Recommendations for improving the Geographical Indication System were presented by the Project Expert, Dariusz Goszczynski. They included approximation of Moldovan legislation and programs to EU best practice, incentives and actions for development of the Geographical Indication System, streamlining the registration procedure, verification of compliance products registered with GI and ex officio control of GI products.

In order to stimulate development of the GI system, based on EU member-states experience, it was proposed 100% reimbursement of costs for the preparation of technical specifications and for the creation of producer groups, as well as the implementation of a program for GI development, agricultural advisory and other support measures for producers.

The EU Project ”Support to Enforcement of the Intellectual Property Rights” in the Republic of Moldova is funded by the European Union and implemented by a Consortium of Archidata LLC (Italy), European Profiles S.C. (Greece) and Business and Strategies in Europe (Belgium). The project has a duration of two years and started November 2016.