Protecting geographical indications in Japan: New opportunities for Binh Thuan dragon fruits
In March of this year, litchi growers in Luc Ngan (Bac Giang) delighted when they received information that Luc Ngan lychee officially became the first Vietnamese product to be protected with a geographical indication) in Japan.
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This is an important factor to affirm the quality and help the product win the trust of consumers in one of the world's leading "difficult" markets. Maybe that's why in this year's lychee export season, "Japanese customers reported better quality of lychee than last year. The consignments were all sold out within two or three hours," said Nguyen Quang Hieu, Head of the Department of International Cooperation and Communication (Plant Protection Department - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) answered on the e-Government newspaper.
Few people know that besides Luc Ngan lychee, two other products that are also in the process of "sprinting" to pursue GI protection in Japan are Binh Thuan dragon fruit and Buon Ma Thuot coffee. These are three products that have been registered for protection in Japan within the framework of a cooperation agreement between the National Office of Intellectual Property (Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam) and the Food Industry Department (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan - MAFF) since 2017. Currently, the application for protection of the GI of Binh Thuan dragon fruit in Japan has undergone two appraisals and has just finished receiving third-party comments on September 21. “As expected, by the end of September, Japan will hold an expert council meeting. On that basis, they will make an official decision on granting a GI protection certificate in Japan for Binh Thuan dragon fruit products," said Dinh Huu Phi, Director of the NOIP (Ministry of Science and Technology). If nothing changes, Binh Thuan dragon fruit will soon become the second GI of Vietnam protected in Japan.
Many expectations are placed on the results of GI protection for Binh Thuan dragon fruit in Japan. However, Mr. Dinh Huu Phi also emphasized that “registration for GI protection is only the first stage. It is important that once registration is complete, how we maintain quality assurance for the sustainable development of this product.” For example, with the GI of Luc Ngan lychee after being protected in Japan, "they require periodic reports on product quality to see if it meets the requirements", Mr. Dinh Huu Phi said.
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