This meeting follows the renewal of a 5-year partnership, known as MOU ("Memorandum of Understanding"), between INPI (Institut national de la propriété industrielle) and IPOV. This arrangement makes it possible to define common bases of understanding for geographical indications, but also for their protection. A first trip was made to Montpellier, to enable Vietnamese professionals to discover the Occitan rice industry. During this new trip, INAO's North-East territorial delegation organized a visit to a winery producing AOP "Alsace". The delegation was also interested in non-agricultural GIs.

A country committed to the geographical indications approach

Vietnam has several national geographical indications. One in particular is registered at European level: fish sauce Phú Quốc. Vietnam is not a member of the Lisbon Agreement or the Geneva Act. However, a geographical indications protection agreement with the European Union has been in force since August 1, 2020. These exchange arrangements thus make it possible to consolidate collaboration around GIs and their protection.

INAO mobilized to promote the concept of geographical indication

As part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty's influence strategy, INAO is developing cooperative actions to highlight the French system of official signs of identification of quality and origin (SIQO) and promote the opportunity represented by geographical indications at international level. This mission is supported by a network of INAO experts. In particular, it enables us to:

• Contribute to defending the commercial interests of French products under SIQO
• Accompany third countries wishing to create or develop their own system
• Strengthen the recognition of SIQO at international level