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Aside from the fact that they can all be found right here in the Philippines, these terms are also the first to be registered as geographic indications or GIs in our country.
In 2022, after 20 years of research and multi-stakeholder consultations, the Philippines was finally able to put in place a sui generis system to protect GIs, which is a kind of intellectual property right.
The new rules issued by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) defines a GI as any indication which identifies a good as originating in a territory, region or locality, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin and/or human factors.
IPOPHL explained that the sui generic system means that local products which meet the criteria for GI protection will now have a separate registration system due to the unique ways needed to effectively protect them.
Some of the world’s most famous GIs include Champagne, Cognac, Scotch Whiskey of the United Kingdom, Parmigiano Reggiano, Café de Colombia, Bordeaux of France and Kampot Pepper of Cambodia.
Champagne, Prosciutto di Parma, Bordeaux Wine, Feta and Tequila from Mexico are also registered as appellations of origin (AO), which is a special kind of GI consisting of a geographical name or a traditional designation used on products which have specific qualities or characteristics that are essentially due to the geographic environment in which they are used.
For ham to receive the name Prosciutto di Parma or Parma ham, it must be produced in the province of Parma in north-central Italy using exclusively pigs from that area. Each step in production, from the breeding of the pigs and their diet to processing and packaging, is closely monitored and controlled by the Instituto Parma Qualita. Only the Instituto can brand the finished ham with the seal of Parma’s five-pointed ducal crown, qualifying the ham as true Parma ham.
Meanwile, Tequila production is governed by federal regulations of Mexico that define where it can be made, where the agave plants to make it can be grown, what has to be stated on the label, where can it be bottled and how much of the content must be made from a certain percentage of agave sugars, according to the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO).
WIPO said that there are around 62,300 GIs in force as of 2024. Of these, Europe had the most at 49.8 percent, followed by Asia with 38.8 percent. China had the highest number of GIs in force within its territory at 9,946 followed by Germany (7661), Hungary (7,365), the Czech Republic (6,782) and Portugal (6,466).
Wines and spirits accounted for 55.9 percent of the 2024 global total while agricultural products and foodstuffs make up 38.1 percent and handicrafts, 4.2 percent.
As of mid-2022, there are around 1,000 AOs recorded in the International Register maintained by the WIPO under the Lisbon international registration system.
Unlike trademarks where an application is filed by an individual or a single entity, GIs must be registered under an association of producers that are directly involved in the production, engaged in the trade of goods and/or are in charge of regulating or protecting GIs. A government agency or local government unit may also be a GI registrant provided that the origin of the goods is within its area of responsibility, IPOPHL added.
According to the new rules, the term of GI protection is indefinite and no longer needs to be renewed, unlike trademark protection which is only good for 10 years –renewable for periods of 10 years each, provided that the trademark owner periodically submits what is called a declaration of actual use of the trademark.
The GI registration, however, can be revoked for a number of reasons, such as if the conditions for protection have not been fulfilled, there is a change in the geographical origin of the goods including the natural and human factors, if a court or tribunal rules that the identified product has no effective control over the use of the GI as well as standards of production of the goods and other product specifications, if the registration was obtained through false statements and documents, and if the registered GI is proven to be generic or a common or customary name for the goods in the Philippines.
IPOPHL is now finalizing a proposed legislation to further strengthen GI protection and enforcement in the country.
Last October 2025, the IPOPHL approved the registration of the Alburquerque Asin Tibuok from Bohol as a GI.
The Asin Tibuok is a traditional sea salt made through a labor-intensive, centuries-old technique that involves the burning of coconut husks, ash filtration and the boiling of seawater in specialized clay pots to create the dense, egg-shaped salt masses. Unrefined and additive-free, the salt contains halite, a natural form of sodium chloride and is known for its smoky, sweet flavor blended with a coconut aroma. This artisanal salt endures in Alburquerque, Bohol, the last bastion of a dwindling cultural heritage craft, IPOPHL said.
Meanwhile, in September of last year, Aklan Piña was registered as a GI in favor of the Aklan Piña & Indigenous Fibers Manufacturers and Traders Association. The GI tag certifies the authenticity of Aklan piña fabric from its raw form, extraction, weaving method and product labeling.
It was in 2023 when the IPOPHL approved the application of the Guimaras Mangoes as the country’s first registered GI.
Its sweetness is attributed to the Guimaras province’s calcareous soil which is abundant in calcium and magnesium and ensures proper drainage. The province’s topography, characterized by moderate undulations, rolling to steep slopes and varying elevations, was also proven to be suitable for cultivating the Carabao mango variety. Climate also plays a crucial role, with the absence of rain during the flowering period said to be critical to prevent pollen from washing away and mitigating risk of infestation.
The manual of specifications for Guimaras Mangoes, a primary requirement for its registration as a collective mark in 2017 and now as a GI, also laid out several practices relating to soil management and other pre-planting preparations up to post-harvest handling, packing and storage. It also detailed the rules and standards on product labelling, control and traceability which association members should adhere to in order to maintain use of the GI seal.
In the legislation which IPOPHL is proposing to Congress, violations of GI will be considered as a crime against the economic and cultural interests of the State, which means it can be enforced by the State even without private stakeholders initiating the process.
The proposed bill will also be in line with IPOPHL’s plan to bring the Philippines to accede to the 2015 Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement which provides for a streamlined international registration route for GIs to facilitate potential market expansion in over 70 contracting member countries. Acceding to this treaty will allow our GIs to be registered in other countries through a signal application and payment of one set of fees.
The GI registration for these three products will now help prevent deceptive traders and producers from falsely claiming that their salt, mangoes and piña fiber are from Alburquerque, Guimaras and Aklan, respectively, even though they did not meet the approved standards.
Among the products which the IPOPHL said have a huge potential of being granted GIs include T’Nalak of Lake Sebu, Davao Pomelo, Bicol Pili, Batangas Barako, Bonoan Bangus, Burdang Lumban, Cebu Dried Mangoes, Cordillera Heirloom Rice, Kalinga Cofee, BagtasonLoom of Antique, Yakan Cloth of Zamboanga and Basilan, SabutanWeave of Aurora, Camiguin Lansones, Davao Cacao, Bohol Ube Kinampay, Basey Banig of Samar, Buhi Weave of Camarines Sur, Masbate Beef and Milagros Carmelado also of Masbate, Laguna Coffee, Tuburan Coffee, Calauan Pineapple and Lambanog of Quezon, Batangas and Laguna.
The grant of GI protection will not only protect local producers and consumers from unauthorized claims as to the origin and true nature of the product. This registered branding will also help our local products to be known worldwide, creating new markets for them and helping boost local economies.
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