presenters at the Geographic Indication (GI) Seminar hosted at the EU Centre at RMIT University
Lara Cernetic, Committee Member of Slovenian Australian Chamber of Commerce, attended a seminar on Geographic Indication (GI) organised by The delegation of the European Union to Australia and the EU Centre at RMIT University within Fine Food Australia Exhibition in Melbourne.
The event was opened by Ambassador Fabrizi and the Victorian Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, Philip Dalidakis, followed by a “tasting” session where participants could sample European GI products. The seminar detailed the benefits for agricultural producers and regional development across Europe and explore how Australia can benefit from GI protection.
A Geographical Indication is a distinctive sign used to identify a product as originating in the territory of a particular country, region or locality where its quality reputation or other characteristic is linked to its geographical origin.
The presenters discussed how producers, especially small producers, of GI products in Europe are able to establish a stronger position in the supply chain, get a better price and an increased share of the added value.
The advantages of GIs for consumers has been noted, including preventing the over standardization of food and the development of a wider range of product choices. GIs also help provide more information on the origin of products and their specifications to interested consumers. That is why protection of reciprocal GIs is important in the future of EU-Australia trade relations.
by Lara Cernetic
14 September