Turkey recently announced a goods certification scheme for geographical indications and traditional cultural specialties with the Industrial Property Lawnumber 6769 ("Law"). The Turkish Patent and Trademark Office has now announced further details of the scheme, including the emblems which can be used on products which meet the necessary criteria.
The Regulation on Geographical Indication and Traditional Cultural Specialty Emblems ("Regulation") was published in Official Gazette number 30285 on 29 December 2017, entering into effect on 10 January 2018.
Key aspects announced about the scheme include:
- The emblem can be used by parties which manufacture and market goods that meet the conditions outlined in the registration certificate for geographical indications and traditional cultural specialties.
- The emblem must be used for registered geographical indications, but is not compulsory for foreign geographical indications which are protected in Turkey by bilateral or multilateral agreements.
- Registered traditional cultural specialties which are marketed without the emblem will not be subject to the Law.
- The emblem must be used on the product or its packaging if possible, or it should be visibly displayed in the relevant workplace.
- Emblems are available in different
colours for:
- Appellation of origin.
- Designation of origin.
- Traditional cultural specialties.
- Black and white emblems are available for products which have black and white packaging.
- Turkish language emblems must be used on products released in Turkey.
- Non-Turkish emblems can be used for products subject to foreign trade.
- Emblems are available free of charge, from the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
- Emblems must have a diameter of at least 15 mm.
The emblems are as follows:
Please see this link for an English translation of the Regulation.
Information first published in the MA | Gazette, a fortnightly legal update newsletter produced by Moroğlu Arseven.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.