📋 Tender Overview
Representatives of Indecopi the IP Key Latin America project and European experts made field visits to the producers of Giant White Corn Cusco and Sal de Maras in the provinces of Calca and Urubamba in the Sacred Valley of the Incas in the Cusco region in order to learn about the challenges faced by those who have a denomination of origin as well as those who are interested in obtaining a geographical indication. This visit is part of the international seminar on Geographical Indications and Appellations of Origin in the Andean Community which is taking place in Cusco Peru between July 12 and 14 2023. This event is organized by the IP Key Latin America Project in collaboration with the National Institute for the Defense of Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property of Peru Indecopi. It should be noted that the IP Key Latin America project promoted by the European Commission and executed by the European Union Intellectual Property Office EUIPO aims to promote the enforcement and protection of intellectual property throughout the Latin American region. As it is remembered the Giant White Corn Cusco was recognized as a denomination of origin in 2005. This species of grain Paracay sara is characterized by being a starchy or soft corn of giant grain which is grown and produced in the province of Calca districts of San Salvador Pisac Taray Coya Lamay and Calca and the province of Urubamba districts of Urubamba Huayllabamba Ollantaytambo Yucay and Maras in Cusco. Currently the Giant White Corn Cusco does not have a regulatory council pending the implementation of a management system that allows an effective use of the denomination of origin including its control certification promotion and defense. At this meeting Indecopi contacted the producers and their technical table to listen to their expectations and evaluate the feasibility of moving towards the constitution of said regulatory council and its subsequent strengthening. Participating in this visit were the general manager of Indecopi Ever Garca the director of Distinctive Signs of Indecopi Sergio Chuez the head of the Regional Office of Indecopi Cusco Paola Aragn the head of the IPKey Latin America project Carlos Azorn the project coordinator of the IPI Institute of Switzerland Reto Meili among other experts. Salt of MarasThat same day a field visit was made to the salt area of Maras located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas province of Urubamba where they toured the facilities of the company Marasal SA which manages the production of Maras Salt and is made up of more than 600 families from the Maras Ayllu and Pichingoto communities. This case has been supported within the framework of the Peruvian-Swiss Project on Intellectual Property Pesipro phase 2 in order to achieve its recognition as a geographical indication. It seeks to articulate the actors of the Maras Salt value chain such as producers processors packers marketers and exporters to strengthen the associative pillar and then develop the support of the application for recognition of the geographical indication. What are Appellations of Origin and Geographical IndicationsAn appellation of origin is a distinctive sign that uses the name of a region or geographical area to designate distinguish and protect a product according to its special characteristics derived essentially from the area where it is made as well as from natural climatic and human factors. Peru has to date 10 denominations of origin declared by Indecopi Pisco Giant White Corn Cusco Chulucanas Pallar de Ica Caf Villa Rica Loche de Lambayeque Caf Machu Picchu Huadquia Maca Junn-Pasco Aceituna de Tacna and Cacao Amazonas Peru. While Geographical Indications are names or signs that refer to a product as originating in that geographical area provided that the quality reputation or other specific characteristic of the product is essentially attributable to its geographical origin. Some internationally known examples are the Aceto Balsmico di Modena or the Turrn de Alicante.
