Rada to harmonize protection of geographical indications for agricultural produce with EU standards

MOSCOW. July 1 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada has passed bill No. 5616 harmonizing Ukrainian legislation dealing with the legal protection of geographical indications for agricultural produce and food products with European Union standards.

Ukrainian media have reported with reference to a social media post by Taras Melnychuk, the government's representative at the Rada, that "the bill is aimed at ensuring the fulfillment of Ukraine's obligations concerning European integration by harmonizing the effective Ukrainian legislation protecting the rights to geographical indications with the EU laws enforcing the rules of protection of geographical indications for agricultural produce and food products."

An explanatory note to the document says that it introduces the notion of traditional guaranteed specifics of agricultural produce, conditions for granting them legal protection, and the notion and procedure of applying special quality indicators to them.

The bill updates the conditions for granting legal protection to a geographical indication for agricultural products and defines a scope of persons entitled to prepare specifications and other documents for such produce.

Bill No. 5616 also introduces a clearance procedure for specifications and other documents essential for the state registration of a geographical indication for agricultural produce featuring traditional guaranteed specifics.

"The enforcement of the bill would have a positive effect on the market environment, the development of the regions, and the natural environment, improve the wellbeing of territorial communities, and protect the rights and interests of business entities, citizens, and the state," the explanatory note says.