RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE IP/C/W/76/Add.3
3September 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3544)
Original: Spanish Council forTrade Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
INFORMATION FROM MEMBERS ONANY SYSTEMS FOR THE REGISTRATION
OFGEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS WHICH THEY OPERATE
Communication from Peru
Addendum
Atitsmeeting of27February 1997, theCouncil forTRIPS agreed toinitiate preliminary work
onissues relevant tothenegotiations specified inArticle 23.4oftheTRIPS Agreement through an
information-gathering activity. Inthisconnection, theCouncil invited Members tosubmit information
onanysystems fortheregistration ofgeographical indications which theyoperate. Reference ismade
toparagraph 73ofdocument IP/C/M/12.
Thepresent document reproduces theinformation received from Perubyacommunication
from itsPermanent Mission, dated 31July1997.IP/C/W/76/Add.3
Page2
PROTECTION OFGEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS INPERU
Thisdocument issubmitted forthepurpose ofcontributing tothediscussion andanalysis of
theprotection andregistration ofgeographical indications (appellations oforigin inthePeruvian
legislation). Thedocument innowayprejudices andshould notbeinterpreted asthePeruvian position
onthismatter. Furthermore, itssubmission doesnotaffect therights andobligations ofPeruunder
theUruguay Round Agreements.
1. Legal framework
InPeru, therearetwostatutes inforcethatcontain provisions relating toappellations oforigin.
OneisDecision 344(Articles 129to142) oftheCommission oftheCartagena Agreement, a
supranationalinstrumentformembercountriesoftheAndeanPactwhichregulatesthecommonindustrial
property regime. Moreover, Peru hasadomestic law,theIndustrial Property Act(Legislative
Decree No.823), whose TitleXV(Articles 218to239)laysdown therules relating toappellations
oforigin.
2. Owner oftheappellation oforigin
ThePeruvian State istheowner ofPeruvian appellations oforigin andmayauthorize their
use(Legislative Decree 823,Article 218).
3. Definition
"Appellation oforigin" means ageographical indication consisting ofthename ofacountry,
aregion oraparticular placeorofaname which, without being thatofacountry, aregion oraparticular
place, relates toaparticular geographical area,serving todesignate aproduct originating therein whose
qualities orcharacteristics aredueexclusively oressentially tothegeographical environment inwhich
itisproduced, including natural andhuman factors (Decision 344,Article 129).
"Peruvian appellation oforigin" means anappellation which usesthename ofaPeruvian region
orlocality todesignate aproduct originating therein whose quality orcharacteristics aredueexclusively
oressentially tothenatural andhuman factors oftheplace (Legislative Decree 823,Article 219).
4. Initiative andlegitimacy inrelation tothedeclaration ofprotection ofappellations oforigin
Thecompetent national office maydeclare anappellation tobeprotected exofficio oratthe
written request ofwhoever candemonstrate alegitimate interest, suchasanindividual orcorporate
bodydirectly engaged intheextraction, production orpreparation oftheproduct orproducts intended
tobecovered bytheappellation oforigin. TheState, departmental, provincial andmunicipal authorities
arealsodeemed tobeinterested parties when appellations oforigin relate totheirrespective jurisdictions
(Decision 344,Articles 133and134; Legislative Decree 823,Article 223). Theapplication for
protection ofanappellation oforigin ismade inwriting tothecompetent office andmust indicate:
(a)theparticulars oftheapplicants, (b)theappellation oforigin requested, (c)thegeographical area
ofproduction, extraction orpreparation oftheproduct tobeidentified bytheappellation, defined
accordingtogeographicalcharacteristicsandpoliticalboundaries,(d)adetaileddescriptionoftheproduct
orproducts tobeidentified bytheappellation forwhich protection isrequested andits(their)
characteristics, and(e)anyotherinformation required bythecompetent office (Legislative Decree 823,
Article 224).
Thecompetent office must examine theapplication within 30working days (Legislative
Decree 823,Article 225).IP/C/W/76/Add.3
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5. Validity andpublication oftheprotection ofanappellation oforigin
Theperiod ofvalidity ofthedeclaration willbedetermined bythecontinued existence ofthe
conditions which gaverisetoit,asjudged bythecompetent national office, which maycancel the
protection ifthose conditions aredeemed nolonger toexist(Decision 344,Article 136). InPeru,
thecompetent national office istheOficina deSignos Distintivos (Trademarks Office) oftheNational
Institute fortheDefence ofCompetition andtheProtection ofIntellectual Property (INDECOPI). The
declarationispublishedonceintheOfficialJournal"ElPeruano"andinanationalnewspaper(Legislative
Decree 823,Article 226).
6. Scope ofprotection
Theprotection ofanappellation oforigin confers uponitsowner arightofexclusive useinitiated
bythedeclaration published bythecompetent national office (Decision 344,Article 131). The
authorization touseaprotected appellation oforigin isvalid fortenyears andmayberenewed for
likeperiods (Decision 344,Article 139; Legislative Decree 823,Article 234).
Protected appellations oforigin maynotbeconverted intogeneric appellations (Legislative
Decree 823,Article 221).
Theappellation oforigin isprotected against: (a)unauthorized use;(b)itsusetoidentify
products notincluded inthedeclaration ofprotection, totheextent thatthese aresimilar products or
ifitsuseexploits thereputation oftheappellation oforigin; (c)anyother practice which might mislead
consumers astothetrueorigin oftheproduct.
7. Application forauthorization touse
Authorization touseanappellation oforigin which hasbeendeclared protected bythecompetent
office mayberequested from thatoffice bypersons who: (a)aredirectly engaged inextracting,
producing orpreparing theproducts identified bytheappellation oforigin; (b)arecarrying outtheir
activities within theterritory specified inthedeclaration; (c)comply withtheother requirements of
thecompetent office (Legislative Decree 823,Article 229).
Thewritten application must contain orbeaccompanied by:
(a) Name andaddress oftheapplicant;
(b) anynecessary authorizations;
(c) documents establishing theexistence ofacorporate applicant andauthorizing
representation;
(d) theappellation oforigin itiswished touse;
(e) acertification oftheplace orplaces ofextraction, production orpreparation ofthe
product, authenticated bytherecord ofaninspection carried outbyanauthorized entity;
(f) acertification ofthecharacteristics oftheproduct itiswished toidentify bymeans
oftheappellation oforigin, including itscomponents, methods ofproduction or
preparation andthefactors linking itwiththeprotected geographical area,authenticated
bytherecord ofaninspection carried outandthecertificate issued byanauthorized
entity;IP/C/W/76/Add.3
Page4
(g) acertification ofcompliance withthePeruvian Technical Standard, where appropriate;
and
(h) evidence ofpayment ofthecorresponding fees(Legislative Decree 823,Article 230).
Thecompetent office mustgrant ordenyauthorization within 15working daysfromthedate
ofsubmission oftheapplication (Legislative Decree 823,Article 233).
8. Expiration oftheright
Theauthorization touseaprotected appellation willexpire ifitsrenewal isnotrequested within
thetime-limits established bylaworifthecorresponding feesarenotpaid(Decision 344,Article 141).
9. Declaration ofprotection ofappellations oforigin ofcountries oftheAndean subregion
Thecompetent national office maydeclare theprotection ofappellations oforigin ofcountries
oftheAndean subregion (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela) ifsorequested bytheir
producers, extractors, manufacturers orcraftsmen having alegitimate interest orbytheirgovernments
(Decision 344,Article 142).
10. Declaration ofprotection ofappellations oforigin ofthirdcountries
Thecompetent national office maydeclare theprotection ofappellations oforigin ofthird
countries provided thatthere isprovision therefor insome agreement towhich themember country
oftheAndean Pactisaparty orifthethirdcountry grants reciprocity oftreatment. Thepossibility
ofapplying forprotection depends ontheappellation oforigin having beendeclared assuchinitscountry
oforigin. Appellations oforigin protected inother countries willnotbedeemed tobecommon or
generic foridentifying aproduct aslongasthatprotection continues tobegranted (Decision 344,
Article 142).
Byconcluding bilateral ormultilateral agreements, theState willpromote therecognition of
Peruvian appellations oforigin abroad, granting, under conditions ofreciprocity, protection toforeign
appellations oforigin byincluding them inaspecial section oftheRegister ofAppellations ofOrigin
(Legislative Decree 823,Article 239).