Geographical indications and designations of origin to be regulated by new law aligned with EU standards

Geographical indications and designations of origin will be regulated by a new law aligned with EU standards in this field. The Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Food Industry today approved the report on the draft law, which provides for strengthening the system for the protection of geographical indications, traditional specialities guaranteed, and optional quality terms, in order to protect local products and enhance the value of the agri-food and artisanal heritage.

The draft aims to establish a unified regulatory framework for the registration, use, and protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for products such as wines, food and agricultural products, artisanal and industrial goods, as well as traditional specialities guaranteed, including agricultural products intended for human consumption and their associated optional quality terms.

The document sets out the requirements applicable to designations of origin and geographical indications, the classification of products eligible for registration, as well as the procedures for filing, publishing, and examining applications. It also defines the products for which traditional specialities guaranteed can be registered and clarifies the criteria related to the registration process.

Other provisions concern the recognition of producer groups as key actors in the management and promotion of products with geographical indications. They will have extended responsibilities regarding monitoring compliance with product specifications, promoting sustainability, protecting designations against misuse, and cooperating with control authorities.

The draft also integrates environmental, social, and economic sustainability criteria into product specifications. With regard to optional quality terms, the draft provides for the possibility of official recognition of characteristics such as “traditional product” or “family farm product”, supporting producers who do not fall under the geographical indications system but whose products have cultural and economic value.

At the same time, the State Agency for Intellectual Property (AGEPI) will be the authority responsible for receiving and examining applications for the registration of geographical indications and traditional specialities guaranteed, as well as for publishing the data in the Official Bulletin of Intellectual Property (BOPI).

The document was drafted by AGEPI and the Ministry of Justice, in the context of implementing the National Programme for the Accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union for 2025–2029. According to the authors, the adoption of this draft law will increase the commercial value of local products, improve their accessibility and integration into the European market, attract investment, develop traditional sectors, strengthen rural tourism, and preserve cultural heritage.

The law will enter into force on 2 April 2027, in correlation with the regulatory framework on trademarks. On the same date, the Law on the Protection of Geographical Indications, Designations of Origin and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed will be repealed.

The draft law is to be examined in the plenary of Parliament.