(CARIFORUM Directorate, CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) – Agro-processors and manufacturers in Belize are now more knowledgeable about Geographical Indications following an information session convened recently by Belize’s Intellectual Property Office (BELIPO), in collaboration with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade of Belize, with the support of the CARIFORUM Directorate.
A Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on products having a specific geographical origin and whose qualities and/or reputation are attributable to that origin. GIs are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuff, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products, and often refer to place names.
National EPA Coordinator of Belize, Margaret Ventura informed participants that this was the first of a series of sessions to introduce stakeholders to the importance of Geographical Indications and related obligations under the CARIFORUM- EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). She noted that in keeping with Belize’s obligations under the EPA, a sui generis Geographical Indications Law had been drafted.
Speaking on behalf of the Director General of CARIFORUM, Deputy Programme Manager, Yvanette Baron George said that the protection of intellectual property is an important aspect of a country’s sustainable development. She also referred to the CARIFORUM Intellectual Property and Innovation Project, which supported CARIFORUM States to establish and strengthen the legal frameworks required for protection and use of geographical indications. The CARIFORUM official indicated that the CARIFORUM Directorate remains committed to support States to implement their Economic Partnership Agreement obligations and to benefit from its provisions.
Deputy Director of Belize Intellectual Property Office (BELIPO), Kay King, noted that BELIPO addresses the intellectual property issues related to the Economic Partnership Agreement and that Geographical Indications can bring tremendous value to Belizean products by ensuring authenticity and preventing misuse.
Participants received information on the importance and types of goods that can be protected under Geographical Indications, different modes and legal frameworks of GI protection as well as the economic aspects of geographical indications. The importance of consultation and cooperation among producers were noted during country presentations on registering and protecting GIs like “Jamaica Jerk”, “Jamaica Rum” and “Trinidad and Tobago Steel Pan” and “Montserrat Hills Cocoa”. Over forty persons, drawn from the Belizean agriculture, agroprocessing and manufacturing sectors, attended the session.
