Bilateral agreements

on the protection of geographical indications and indications of source

Bilateral agreements on geographical indications and indications of source protect certain designations from wrongful use in commerce. This means that protected geographical indications and names of states and cantons may only be used in compliance with the law of the country of origin.

 

The central concern of bilateral agreements on geographical indications and indications of source is to ensure that:


The agreements contain lists of protected geographical indications according to product group. The agreements also protect the names of states and cantons as well as those of provinces and regions in partner countries.

 

These names are protected for all products and goods. In other words, protection of the indication of source “Switzerland” is not limited to the types of products contained in the lists, but also includes:


Protected geographical indications and indications of source may only be used in accordance with the law of the country of origin. This means that a Swiss designation may only be used in a partner country if Swiss law also permits such use. Law enforcement also takes place in accordance with the rules of the country of origin. The three most recent agreements have been concluded with Russia, Jamaica and Georgia.

Switzerland negotiates such agreements with like-minded partner countries in order to reach a level of protection that goes beyond the minimum standards of protection applicable under the World Trade Organization (WTO). The negotiations are usually conducted by the IPI in collaboration with the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG).

 

List of bilateral treaties on geographical indications and indications of source concluded by Switzerland:

 
 

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