TBILISI, September 19 (Itar-Tass) — Georgia’s National Intellectual Property Center Sakpatenti has patented 37 items of products made in the South Caucasus country, the centre’s head, Irakly Gvaladze, told reporters on Monday.
On this list are Georgia’s cheese, matsoni (fermented milk product), khachapuri (traditional cheese-filled bread), churchkhela (sausage-shaped string of nuts dipped in a concentrated fresh grape juice), Borzhomi and Nabeglavi mineral waters and several wine brands.
“The patenting of Georgia-made products will protect these dishes and products from falsification and along with this will open doors to new markets,” he said.
Gvaladze noted that in compliance with the international law the list of 37 patented items was submitted for consideration to patent organizations of different countries, including Russia.
Moreover, in 2004 Georgia and Russia concluded an intergovernmental agreement under which the countries exchange the lists of patented products.
“If no points at issue emerge, patens should be effective on the territories of the two countries,” Gvaladze said. “Under this agreement Sakpatenti handed over to Rospatent (the Russian federal service for intellectual property, patents and trademarks) through diplomatic channels (through the Swiss Embassy) 37 items of Georgia’s patented products. Now we are waiting for Russia’s reaction.”
He underlined that “there are all legal grounds for these patented products to be officially recognized in Russia.”
In August 2010 Georgia and the European Union reached an agreement on mutual recognition and protection of geographical indications of agricultural and food products. This document is designed to boost trade in agricultural and food products between Georgia and the EU and to ensure more effective protection of markets and consumers from forgery.