Law No.66-XVI “On protection of geographic indications, names of place of origin and guaranteed traditional products.

This Law establishes the provisions related to registration, legal protection and use of geographic indications, names of place of origin and guaranteed traditional products. The State Intellectual Property Agency (AGEPI) shall be the authorized state institution in the sphere of legal protection of geographic indications, names of place of origin and guaranteed traditional products on the national territory. Legal protection shall be carried out in accordance with registration of geographic indications, names of place of origin and guaranteed traditional products by the Agency. The Act consists of 8 Sections divided into 64 articles: (1) basic provisions; (2) legal protection; (3) registration of geographic indications, names of place of origin and guaranteed traditional products; (4) dispute settlement; (5) international registration of places of origin of commodities; (6) protection of rights; (7) general provisions; and (8) conclusive and transitional provisions. As a name of place of origin and geographic indication shall be subject to protection the name of region or locality and, in exceptional cases, official name of the country, used for denomination of commodities: (a) originating from this region, locality or country; (b) quality or characteristics of commodity are due to geographic area, including natural and human factors; and (c) processing and handling of commodities takes place within the indicated geographic area.