EUIPO drives GI promotion and local development at international event in Brazil
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) played a key role in co-organising Origens Brasileiras, Brazil’s most significant geographical indications (GI) event in its sixth edition, in the context of the EU-funded intellectual property (IP) cooperation project AL-INVEST Verde IPR. The event was organised by the Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Enterprises (SEBRAE) in partnership with the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI).
Held from 27 to 29 November 2024 in São Paulo, Brazil, the event brought together key stakeholders in the fields of GIs, tourism and small businesses, focusing on rural development and sustainability. The event’s objectives were to encourage knowledge exchange, enhance technical management and public policies related to valorising local supply chains through IP rights, and highlight their potential for local economic development.
During the event, the EUIPO, through the AL-INVEST Verde project, mobilised its expert network to promote GIs and their impact on local economies. On 28 November, a keynote speaker – Federico Moncunill from the Regulatory Council of the protected GI Jijona and Turrón of Alicante, Spain – discussed sustainability and the role of GIs in territorial development.
Expertise from the Tequila Regulatory Council also addressed traceability and quality assurance in GIs, highlighting origin-based differentiation as a market advantage. In collaboration with the Industrial Property Office of France (INPI), a workshop on the relation between handicrafts and origin emphasised the importance of protecting knowledge in a ‘Team Europe’ spirit.
On 29 November, the progress of the AL-INVmentor GI mentorships in three MERCOSUR countries was presented, showcasing advancements in supporting local producers through mentorship programmes. With representatives from Argentina and France, the plenary session highlighted successful GI practices that create value while preserving local traditions. This was followed by technical panels where European legal expertise was provided on protecting GIs used as ingredients in other products and discussions on structuring and strengthening GIs with prospects for 2025.
The EUIPO through AL-INVEST Verde IPR not only contributed to disseminating best practices regarding GIs, but also reinforced the strategic value of GIs in promoting local development in the region, aligning with EU sustainability goals and the European Green Deal.
The EUIPO is an international GI registration authority that builds on decades of expertise leading the EU’s international cooperation activities on IP rights, including geographical indications. The EUIPO was recently entrusted with managing the registration of craft and industrial GIs at EU level. The first applications can be filed from 1 December 2025.