GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS FOR AGRIBUSINESS PRODUCTS IN THE BRAZIL AND SÃO FRANCISCO VALLEY

Resumo

From discussions on international trade and the need for intellectual property protection, organizations around the world are committed to the pursuit of continuous improvement and differentiated attributes for their products and services. The Geographical Indications (GIs), regulated by the LPI nº 9.279 of 1996, became very attractive seals. The objective of this study was to analyze the evolution of GI applications in Brazil, focusing on the Region of the São Francisco Valley, as well as evaluating potential products to obtain IG seal in this Region, where agribusiness is the main economic activity. For this purpose, a documentary analysis was carried out, based on publications made available by the National Institute of Industrial Property, and research in periodicals, theses, dissertations and conference proceedings. At the present time (January 2018), 115 GIs were deposited, with 28 certification seal approved for Provenances Indications (PIs) and 13 Origin Denominations (ODs) for agribusiness products. Except for the Minas Gerais, that makes up the focus region of this study, there is a small number of IGs for Paraíba, Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia and Pernambuco and only a single PI for table grapes and mango aproved for the IG "Valley of the Submédio São Francisco", which includes Petrolina-PE and Juazeiro-BA. On the other hand, several potential products have been suggested for registration of PI and OD, such as: Banana, Coconut Green, Guava, Lemon, Papaya, Pineapple, Atemoia, Acerola and Passion Fruit, and their derivatives: juices, wines and sweets, as well as the Tacacá of the Amazônia.