SUSTAINABLE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: CHALLENGES AND ALTERNATIVES FOR POTENTIAL GAPS OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION SEAL

Resumo

Geographical Indication (GI) it’s a seal given by Nacional Institute of lndustrial Property (NIIP) for products or services that have peculiar characteristics, related to its original region, and that pursuits repression of forgery of that product or service. GI represents an support of local development, adding value for the holder of the seal, and boosting tourism and economy, besides other factors. However, there is little expressiveness of holders of this seal, taking into account the environmental and cultural potential that exists in Brazil. So, this study aims to understand the causes for the small number of applications and the obstacles to the small producer and to the local service provider in the obtainment of the seal, and how to bypass them so that exists an effective and growing sustainable local development. For that, we used bibliographic research and analysis of relevant legal acts. We find that Normative Instruction nº 25/NIIP ends up facilitating it for foreign products that already has certification on its origin country, making the highest demand come from outside the country. This question, together with the lack of development of interest of small producers in obtainment of the seal ends up contributing with the little expressiveness on GI’s numbers. Therefore, it’s necessary an theoretical contribution that helps on social and ambiental sustainable development, besides of public sphere support on the dissemination of knowledge and facilitating the procedures for obtaining GI, so that this number can be more expressive, helping in the effective regional development.