The Worldwide Symposium on Geographical Indications organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) inaugurated the Virtual Exhibition on Geographical Indications that will be publicly accessible from September 6, 2021, to March 6, 2022. Visit the Exhibition.

The Exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to discover the advantages of the Lisbon System of International Registration of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications, as well as see concrete examples of the products, the quality and reputation of which derive from their geographical origin.

The initiative is designed to raise public awareness about the benefits of international protection of geographical indications among various stakeholders around the world who from generation to generation preserve and pass on their traditions and knowledge of product manufacturing.

The Exhibition contains materials on geographical indications from 39 WIPO Member States and 2 intergovernmental organizations. The Russian Federation is presented by the Astrakhan sturgeon caviar, Bashkir honey and Vorkuta venison.

For reference:

On July 27, 2020, the Federal Law on Geographical Indications No. 230-FZ entered into force, which introduced a new tool for regional brands promotion – geographical indication.

Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration was adopted on October 31, 1958, to establish an international registration system for the appellations of origin.

On May 20, 2015, the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement was adopted. The document improved the system of protection of designations indicating the geographical origin of goods, and also expanded the list of the protected objects including geographical indications.

The Lisbon system allows owners of the appellations of origin and geographical indications to apply for protection in several countries by filing a single application in one language, which significantly reduces registration costs and timeline.

The Government is currently considering the documents required for the accession of the Russian Federation to the Geneva Act.