(CARIFORUM Directorate, CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) - Representatives from Intellectual Property Offices and National EPA Coordinators of CARIFORUM States met with their European Union counterparts on recently to continue discussions for a CARIFORUM-EU Agreement for the Protection of Geographical Indications.

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, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products, and refer to place names.

The meeting was chaired by Ms. Margaret Ventura, EPA Coordinator in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Belize, the current Chair of CARIFORUM. Leading the European side was Mr. Benjamin Vallin, International Relations Officer at the Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission.

There have been seven rounds of discussions to date based on obligations under Article 145 of the EPA. Once finalised, the Agreement will facilitate the protection of geographical indications from CARIFORUM States in EU Member States and vice versa. The CARIFORUM Directorate at the CARICOM Secretariat, tasked with coordinating the Agreement's implementation, organised the meeting.

The CARIFORUM EU Agreement on Geographical Indications will be a treaty between CARIFORUM States and the European Union that will allow GIs from CARIFORUM States and the EU to be protected in each other’s territory.