New Geographical Indications

1. GI “YERBA MATE ARGENTINA”

The Value Added Secretariat has issued Resolution No. 16/2016, published in the Official Gazette on March 15, 2016 by which the Geographical Indication (GI) “YERBA MATE ARGENTINA” and its Production Protocol were registered and approved.

The Resolution states the following:

i) The certificate evidencing the right to use the GI “YERBA MATE ARGENTINA” is issued on behalf of the Regulatory Council of such GI.

ii) The Resolution approves the logo to commercialize the product protected by the GI, which must include the year and number of this resolution. The logo is the following:

iii) The products identified with the GI “YERBA MATE ARGENTINA” must bear the Geographical Indication distinctive sign approved by Resolution No. 546/2011 of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing (please see “Geographical Indications for Agricultural and Food Products,” published in Marval News # 109 of September 30, 2011).

iv) According to the regulation of Law No. 25,380 which states the protection of GI for agricultural and food products, the Resolution must be notified to the National Institute of Industrial Property as well as to the corresponding National and/or International organizations.

This is the sixth GI that has been recognized for agricultural and food products since the passing of Law No. 25,380 (2001) as modified by Law No. 25,966 (2004).

2. GI “QUEBRADA DE HUMAHUACA”

The Argentine Institute of Viticulture (NIV) has issued Resolution No. 39/2015, published in the Official Gazette on January 12, 2016, by which the area known as “QUEBRADA DE HUMAHUACA” was recognized as a Geographical Indication (GI).

Fernando María Dupont filed the petition to obtain such recognition.

NIV found that the name “QUEBRADA DE HUMAHUACA, PATRIMONIO DE LA HUMANIDAD, PROVINCIA DE JUJUY” was registered as a trademark in the name of Gobierno de la Provincia de Jujuy (Government of Province of Jujuy). According to Law No. 25,163, governing GIs for wines and vinic products, NIV may only recognize a GI previously registered as a trademark with the authorization of the owner of the trademark. 

Bearing in mind that the Government of Province of Jujuy agreed to register the above mentioned name as a GI and considering that such specific area of the country possesses certain characteristics to produce high quality wines, “QUEBRADA DE HUMAHUACA” was recognized within the limits established in the resolution, as a GI of the Republic of Argentina, located in the Province of Jujuy, according to the following map: