Geographical indications (GIs) for Phu Quoc fish sauce have been recognized by the European Union (EU) for two years, bringing Vietnam big economic benefits. Applying for GI protection and effectively using GIs is indispensable to agricultural producers and exporters, especially in the context of deepening international integration. Vietnam Economic News’ Phuong Lan talked with Bui Huy Son, Director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Director of the European Trade Policy and Investment Support Project (EU-MUTRAP).
What are your views on the export results of Phu Quoc fish sauce businesses since the GI protection certificate was granted by the EU in 2014?
Phu Quoc fish sauce is not only a Vietnamese specialty recognized by the EU but also the first ASEAN’s specialty recognized in the entire EU market with 28 member countries.
Since this certification, we have witnessed nearly 1.3 million labels granted to be used for Phu Quoc fish sauce products and about 450,000 liters of Vietnamese fish sauce exported to Europe under the Phu Quoc brand, with export prices growing 30-50 percent. Tens of companies have registered to use GIs for Phu Quoc fish sauce.
The sales of Phu Quoc fish sauce with certified GIs have increased not only in the EU but also in Vietnam and other markets such as the US, Australia, Japan, and Canada.
Reality shows that products with certified GIs or brands are often counterfeited. This has happened with Phu Quoc fish sauce. What do you think must be done to prevent counterfeiting?
In fact, many domestic and foreign businesses sell their products under the name ‘Phu Quoc fish sauce’ without official license. Some of them do this due to a lack of awareness or information about GIs, while others do it intentionally, violating the intellectual property right over the Phu Quoc fish sauce brand.
Therefore, genuine producers need to protect their legitimate interests by informing the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Kien Giang Province People’s Committee, and the Phu Quoc Fish Sauce Association, or security authorities, on any act of infringing GIs. Promotional activities need to be intensified to encourage consumers to buy fish sauce products with certified GIs.
What should businesses do to take full advantage of the EU’s certificate for Phu Quoc fish sauce GIs?
It took Vietnam 10 years to complete all procedures required to get Phu Quoc fish sauce GIs certified by the EU. So, protecting these GIs is very important.
This responsibility belongs first of all to fish sauce producers using the Phu Quoc brand. They need to learn carefully about and seriously abide by EU regulations on production, material sources, packaging, and preservation.
While the EU is a large market ready to accept high value products, it is not easy for a new product to access their distribution systems. This means businesses need to intensify marketing activities and take the initiative in joining distribution networks in the EU.
State authorities, especially the Kien Giang Province People’s Committee - the unit having the authority to grant intellectual property rights over Phu Quoc fish sauce and deal with violations of these rights, and the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam should bring their role into play to protect legitimate interests of genuine Phu Quoc fish sauce producers. I think businesses themselves should join consumers and state authorities in efforts to promote Phu Quoc fish sauce and struggle against any infringement of intellectual property rights over these products.
Vietnam is a potential agricultural exporter. What can we learn from the experience of building GIs for Phu Quoc fish sauce to build GIs for other products?
Vietnam is promoting agricultural restructuring to develop high-tech agriculture and deepen international integration in this field. In this context, it is very important to protect registered agricultural products. This is also successful experiences of advanced countries to increase the value of agricultural products and interests of farmers.
It takes a long time to complete all necessary procedures for GI certification. This process requires joint efforts from central and local authorities as well as the business community. As the GI or origin of a product allows one to know about the locality where it is made as well as its production know-how, local authorities need to accompany businesses to protect products’ GIs.
Secondly, state management authorities from the central to local level and the business community need to maintain tight coordination in applying for GI protection. Finally, it is necessary to seek support from domestic and foreign partners. In case of Phu Quoc fish sauce for instance, Vietnam has achieved desired results thanks to active support from the EU through the EU-MUTRAP in the process of implementing necessary procedures.
Source: ven
Key words : Promoting, geographical indications, for agricultural products.
