WHAT IS GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS?
“Geographical Indications” (GIs) might be an unfamiliar term for some of us. However, we might have been subconsciously aware of GIs products.
Really?
Dani Pedrosa celebrated his First position in MotoGP Race
Surely that we have, at least once, watched International racing event such as Formula 1, DTM, MotoGP, event some of local racing competition in Indonesia. Say, in an international event, the champions of the racing competition will get some trophies and also an opportunity to celebrate using a bottle of carbonated beverage that will pop the bottle cork and spray it to all over the cheering crowd.
That beverages is White Wine that has been carbonated. It is known better as Champagne.
Alright .. So?
Despite producers from other countries can easily make similar Sparkling (carbonated) White Wine product, they are NOT ALLOWED to use Champagne as the name of their product unless such products were made in the territory of Champagne, France. One should also be part of the Champagne Producers Association (Comité interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne) that owns the Geographical Indications rights.
Hoahm .. I don’t get it .. Can you explain more?
Have you ever tasted Spaghetti that is sprinkled by Parmesan Cheese on the top? Yes, PARMESAN CHEESE.
The word “Parmesan” is an easier way to say a rather mouthful, original italian term: PARMIGGIANO REGGIANO. Supposedly, if our local dairy producer in Bandung could make a similar product, can they sell it as “Parmesan Cheese”?
Sadly, the answer is: NO.
Why?
Cheese products that can use Parmiggiano Reggiano name are only those that are produced in very specified areas:
- Parma region;
- Reggio Emilia region;
- Modena region;
- Bologna region, limited only to the western part of the Reno river; and
- Mantua region, limited only to the eastern part of the Po river.
Such simple and easy trade terms, apparently has become the cause of the fiery trade fight between European Union (EU) and the United States (US). According to the Americans, Parmesan is just a common term and it is not necessarily limited to certain ridiculous rules implemented by the EU under Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Origin (PGI).
Europe, on the other hand, had gone extra miles by making redundancy through a trade negotiation with Mexico to countermeasure such notion made by the US. Europe offered a lowered tariffs for European exporters who are willing to export their cheese products to Mexico, resulting a better price for the Mexican importers. However, EU obliged Mexico to cordially implement the PDI/PGI system into their national law, preventing the US exporters to claim “Parmesan” as common term onto their products. If Mexico agreed to EU’s terms, US as the biggest exporter of Cheese products to Mexico would have to re-label their cheese products.
Wow, interesting! So, do we have this “GIs” products in Indonesia?
Are you the millenials who love to hangout in one of the ridiculously famous coffee shop franchises? Are you willing to spend more than $5 just for a tiny cup of coffee?
Do you have any prior knowledge to coffee cupping standards or so?
Well, most of such coffee shops franchises are coming from abroad (foreign brands). Of course, they will develop product branding that their coffee are great, special, good, and everything.
However, do not forget that Indonesia has A LOT of PREMIUM variants of coffee with outstanding qualities resulting from a very traditional process that has been passed throughout centuries and/or coming from the richness of the land where the coffee trees are grown.
I believe, you have heard about “GAYO COFFEE”.
This particular coffee has two main variants: Gayo 1 and Gayo 2, that are quite famous in the international communities of coffee enthusiasts. Many coffee enthusiasts with cupping skill in coffee industries acknowledged the Gayo Coffee qualities.
Gayo Arabica Coffee is just one of many GI-based Coffee Products in Indonesia. Not to mention about the varieties of best quality of spices, rice, dairy products, even crafts made with authentic skills and weaving (tenun) fabric that are also part of Indonesian registered GIs!
Such potential is paramount to be implemented not only in commodity markets in general but we should have a more thorough branding strategy, including quality management towards our GI-based products and promote it as our PREMIUM PRODUCTS with outstanding qualities.
Now imagine, such potential are spread from the food and beverages sectors up to the creative industries in the form of fashion products using a theme of traditional knowledge that we used in the process-making of the fabrics.
So, if by any chance you visit a tourism spot or you are going back to your city, try to find out the GIs potential in your land.
We have such a beautiful country with a lot of potential!
