The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion reaffirmed that the Sultanate's joining the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications vide Royal Decree No. 19/2021 issued on February 15, 2021 aimed to provide international legal protection for the Sultanate's products having Geographical Indications.

The Act also provides revenue to the Sultanate through the Geneva Act member states' protection of appellations of origin and geographical indications within the Sultanate.

Ali bin Hamad Al Mamari, Director of Intellectual Property Department at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion said Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications was endorsed on May 20, 2015 and took effect on February 26, 2020.

"The Act boosts the existing international registration system for protection of appellations and geographical indications," he said.

Some government organisations can join the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications which further boosts the international protection system for products quality of which are associated with specific origins, he added. 

SOURCE: TIMESOFOMAN