Registered GIs: Intellectual property, agricultural policy and international trade

This article discusses the European proposals to the World Trade Organisation to improve the worldwide protection of geographical indications for agricultural products. It also considers whether non European nations, including Australia, could benefit by establishing their own registers of protected geographical indications. The advantages and disadvantages of geographical indications of origin are compared with those of trade marks. This article also examines the options open to non European nations in the World Trade Organisation negotiations