URUGUAY – PUBLIC CONSULTATION – GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS – DEADLINE:  OCTOBER 26, 2019

The Uruguayan Trademark and Patent Office (“DNPI”) has just announced the call to Public Consultation on Geographical Indications and Appellations of Origin of Switzerland and Liechtenstein provided by the European Free Trade Association (“EFTA”) in the framework of the negotiations of a trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

 

The public consultation refers to a list of Geographical Indications of Switzerland and Liechtenstein to be considered for protection in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

The Public Consultations is open for a 30-day term, until Saturday October 26, 2019.

The purpose of the consultation is to receive comments, opinions, analysis, requests, proposals, objections and remarks on said list of Geographical Indications.

The consultation is open to public and private institutions, and at large to the members of the society.

The public consultation is channeled through the Uruguayan Trademark and Patent Office (DNPI), by Resolution No. 11/2019.

 

AGREEMENT MERCOSUR – EFTA.

As already announced by the Uruguayan Foreign Office (“MRREE”), on August 23, 2019, in the city of Buenos Aires, MERCOSUR and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), concluded the negotiations for a trade agreement.

EFTA is a free trade space the members of which are Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

The agreement on Geographical Indications forms part of the Intellectual Property chapter and refer only to the relationship between Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and the four Member States of MERCOSUR.

The information on the Agreement that has been made public mentions that, through an Appendix on Geographical Indications, the parties will recognize and protect as geographical indications a list of products of the other part.

As foreseen by MECOSUR and EFTA, the first step (September, 2019) consists in the exchange of the lists of Geographical Indications to be submitted to public consultation.  On October, 2019 the public consultation process will end in each of the Parties.  On November, 2019, the exchange of the results of the public consultation will take place.  Finally, on December, 2019, the parties plan to agree on the definitive treatment that the Geographical Indications of both parties will receive.

 

LIST OF GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS OF SWITZERLAND AND LIECHTENSTEIN.

See attached List of Geographical Indications.

Our FISCHER Intellectual Property Team will be glad to provide you with any further information or clarification you may require.