At a meeting of the Senate Committee on judicial and legal issues and combating corruption, the expert group reviewed the Geographical Indications Bill.

The experts stressed the importance of local authorities providing practical assistance to product manufacturers. It is known that a geographical indication is an identification mark of a product originating from a certain geographical place.

In general, geographical indications consist of the name of the place of origin of the goods. For example, one of the geographic indicators is Roquefort, which means cheese produced only in a certain province of France. Examples of geographic indications abroad are Swiss (hours), Feta (cheese) and others.

Committee experts noted that the country also has great potential to promote products of certain provinces, especially in the field of agriculture and crafts, but provinceal brands are underdeveloped due to strict requirements for geographical names of origin of goods. In particular, to date, only four geographical indications of origin of goods have been registered in Uzbekistan, two of which belong to local manufacturers Bagizagan (Samarkand province) and Chortoq (Namangan province).

Local business entities have opportunities for developing the production of goods marked with a geographical indication. In particular, Chust Knife, Margilan Atlas, Bukhara Carpet, Bakhmal Apple, Mirzachul Melon, Samarkand Bread, Kashkadarya Tandoor Meat and other unique products.

A geographical indication can, as a rule, be registered at the request of several legal or natural persons located in this geographical object, the name of which is used to identify the goods produced. As an exception, the law contains such norms as the possibility of filing an application for registration by one legal or natural person in the absence of other interested persons.

Committee experts also underscored that the document provides for empowering non-governmental non-profit organizations and relevant mayor offices with the right to apply to the authorized body for registration of geographical indications.

The experts highlighted that the implementation of this bill will serve to increase the number of manufacturers wishing to register product indications and, most importantly, will contribute to the development of provincial brands.

As a result of the meeting, an expert opinion on this bill was prepared and submitted to the committee on judicial and legal issues and combating corruption.