Public Discussion of Draft Regulations on Implementation of the System of Geographical Indications Protected for Wines in the Republic of Moldova

With the view of promoting and disseminating information on the national systems of protection of geographical indications (GIs) and appellations of origin (DO) in the wine sector, on June 10 this year at AGEPI was held the seminar “Public discussion of draft regulations on implementation of the system of geographical indications protected for wines in the Republic of Moldova”. The meeting was organized by AGEPI jointly with the Project “Competitiveness Enhancement and Enterprise Development II” (CEED II) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of the Republic of Moldova. Among the guests of honour were Mr. Douglas Griffith, Director of USAID CEED II Project, Mrs. Veronique Fouks, Head of Legal and International Service under the National Institute of Appellations of Origin (France) and Mr. Gheorghe Arpentin, President of the Union of Oenologists of the Republic of Moldova.

The representatives of the wine sector in the Republic of Moldova have been informed about the experience of France and the EU on geographical indications and appellations of origin for wines. Thus, of those over 10,300 GIs protected at international level, most belong to developed countries (8900 IG) and only 1400 GIs - to developing countries. 85% of the exports of French wines are wines with GI, 80% of the export of EU spirits are spirits bearing GI and the 593 GIs protected at Community level, in the possession of France (466 GIs for wines/alcoholic drinks and 127 designations for other products) generate 19 billion euros (16 billion euros for wines and spirits and 3 billion euros for other products) being vital for 138,000 enterprises. The prices of products bearing AO, mentioned above, are 35%-45% higher than prices for similar products without AO. In the EU, the price difference between the products with AO and GI and similar products without such designations is on average 10%-15%.

Mr. Simion Levitchi, Director of Trademarks, Industrial Designs Department, AGEPI, exposed information about the regulatory framework for implementation of the GI/AO system in the Republic of Moldova (application to vine-wine products), in accordance with Law no. 66-XVI/2008 on the Protection of Geographical Indications, Appellations of Origin and Traditional Specialties Guaranteed. He reiterated that currently with AGEPI are recorded under the national procedure two appellations of origin of the Republic of Moldova (“Ciumai” and “Romanesti” - for wines) and 5 appellations of origin of the Czech Republic (4 for beer and 1 for alcoholic drinks).

Also, on April 18, 2011, in Chisinau has been initialed the text of the Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Republic of Moldova on the protection of geographical indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs. Under this Agreement, our country will provide protection on its territory to a total of 3100 geographical indications for foodstuffs, wines and spirits, and geographical indications of the Republic of Moldova for these products will be protected in the European Union.

“Draft normative acts for implementation of the GI/AO system for wines: conceptual aspects” - this was the title of the report presented by Mrs. Cristina Colun, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of the Republic of Moldova. Among the priorities of economic agents in our country have been listed:

• raising the level of quality of wines;
• increasing the export of wines in the EU states and third countries;
• marketing of wines with GI and AO at a higher price;
• re-equipment of enterprises with modern equipment;
• vineyards compliance with European standards;
• obtaining quality grapes;
• legal protection of AO and GIs;
• national and international recognition of Moldovan wines.

Finally, the participants in the meeting concluded that the GI and the AO are some effective tools for promoting development, because they:

• help manufacturers to achieve a superprofit in exchange for quality guarantee;
• contribute to more accurate and equitable distribution of incomes throughout the production chain, beginning with the producers of raw materials and ending with vendors;
• exploit the locality of origin, create jobs, prevent the rural exodus;
• promote the diversification of products;
• allow manufacturers to sell clearly differentiated products;
• encourage preservation of natural resources, etc.