Geographical Indication Products

Geographical Indication is a registration. We call geographical indication when a product standards are patented and registered such as its region, production type, season, taste and design by the relevant institutions in the world. So why do institutions apply to patent institutions to determine the standard of this Geographical Indication? This is where the whole distinction we talked about comes into play. It is not enough to have a geographical indication for a product to be produced only in its region, to be produced by masters who know that job or to produce organic products. The arrangment and determination of the registration document of geographical indication specifation aren’t easy process. Firstly, institutions, universities and notables in that region investigates products origin. Afterwards, local products of region gets compared and passes through many tests. Finally the standard of the chosen most valuable product from the region gets written and it will be presented to institutions and experts. The main concern is to register the best and special product of the region,its name and standards. After this process, product will be registered as a product of the region all around the world.

For example; Söke Körüklü Çizmesi. Its top part and sole linings are made of calf leather, the lining is made of goat leather and sole is made of treated skin of cattle. It is fully handmade. It has two different styles “Baklava (Akordeon) körük” ve “Düz körük” and have to be produced with traditional production methods in the form of a healthy footwear. In order to process a real Söke Körüklü Cizmesi, there are dozens of standards that have to be met as in previous sentences. This applies to all products from handicrafts to food and beverage products, from carpet to furniture. If it doesn’t fullfil the all required strandards, that product can’t have a Geogprahical Indication.

There are three registered versions of the Geographical Indication. Traditional Product Name, Geographical Mark and Origin Mark. These three types of registrations are Geographical indication. The difference from each other is; Some products can meet as many standards as they want and can only be produced in their region, some products can be produced if they meet the standards outside of their region, and some products can be called traditional products if they comply with the standards. These three types of registration are also included in the Geographical Indication Registry. So what will happen if this registration is taken? This is the important question. We can say that this is the case that makes all the difference from other products. That product name cannot be used without obtaining a Geographical Indication. For example, you are a Izmit Pismaniye producer, If you do not have a Geographical Indication, you cannot call your product Izmit Pismaniye. Because this name is registered and you cannot brand or use it in this way without getting the registration that you produce geographically marked product from the relevant institution. Likewise, as we can not call Roquefort cheese or Maras Ice Cream. If the product doesn’t have a Geographical Indication, it isn’t considered as real Malkara Eski Kasar Cheese. In order to be called as that, you must apply to register for Geographical Indication, meet all the standards and always pass the tests.