Geographical Indications proposed for registration in Singapore
25 Feb 2013
Singapore recently concluded negotiations with the European Union (EU) on a free trade agreement (the EU-Singapore FTA; or EUSFTA).
As a result, Singapore needs to enhance its existing regime for the protection of geographical indications (GIs).
The Singapore Government has published a consultation paper seeking views on a list of terms in relation to 196 products that the EU has proposed be protected in Singapore as geographical indications. This list is contained in Annex A of the consultation paper.
The Singapore Government seeks responses to some questions about the terms on this list. Those responses need to be about the use of such terms in Singapore.
The questions include whether:
- You, your company or your suppliers hold, and can support, the view that the term is generic in Singapore (ie it is customary in Singapore as the common name for a particular good).
- The term is found within a registered or well known trade mark in Singapore.
Geographical Indications (GIs)
Geographical indications are intellectual property rights like trade marks.
Once a term is protected in a particular country (for example, Singapore) as a geographical indication, only people whose products are made in the specified geographical location according to the specified criteria will generally be allowed to use that term on those products in that country.
For example, Champagne is a registered geographical indication in many countries around the world, including Europe and more recently Australia. The term Champagne may only be used in Europe and Australia on wines produced in the Champagne region of France, in accordance with special criteria. These requirements include sales, imports and exports.
Like all intellectual property rights, protection is decided on the circumstances that exist in the country where protection is sought. For instance, even though Feta is a registered geographical indication in Europe, different Australian cheese makers have been making it in Australia for many years. Feta is not a registered geographical indication in Australia and remains available for use here as the common name of a type of cheese.
Your response
The full consultation paper is available to read.
If you have a response to any of the questions in the consultation paper about one of the terms in the list at Annex A, please email Tanya Duthie at assist@ipaustralia.gov.au by COB 8 March 2013.
The Australian Government will compile any responses and draft a covering note. We will lodge these by the due date, and notify you of the outcome.
Please do not lodge submissions directly with Singapore.
Last Updated: 26/2/2013
