FAO 04/02/2016

(http://www.fao.org/vietnam/news/detail-events/en/c/382153/)

An important FAO-supported rural development project (GCP/RAS/281/FRA) funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) in Viet Nam will establish an operational system to control three geographical indications of two key products.

The specialities - Van Yen cinnamon and  Moc Chau Shan Tuyet tea have already been granted certificates of registration for geographical indication (GI) by the National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam (NOIP). But weaknesses in the internal and external control systems during the production process have so far limited  their capacity  to fully meet required standards under GI  protection and therefore benefit from promotional benefits.

In response, the FAO-AFD project in Yen Bai, Son La and provinces will enhance awareness raising and capacity building on internal and external controls in compliance with international standards applying to GIs. This is especially important as Viet Nam integrates with the international economy with free trade agreements, such as the European Union and the potentially the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to improve value added and increase sustainable incomes for farmers."GI is an important tool to help local producers shift from quantity to quality, as well as help increase the chances of survival in the current market and access new markets." said FAO Representative in Viet Nam Mr. JongHa Bae.

Talking to a number of enterprises, farmers from above localities expected that the project's support would improve the quality through the internal and external  control processes and added value of GI products in local, regional and international markets .

Mr. Nguyen Van Tam, chairman of the Que Son Cooperative - one of 5 big production-business facilities in Van Yen expected that “when GI of Van Yen cinnamon is registered and protected in the region and abroad, especially in Europe, the Van Yen cinnamon planters will no longer worry about the markets and will surely assert its brand. The farmers’ income then will be improved.”

“Priority should be given to changing the mindsets in branding management and development of products with GI certification, to build confidence for consumers and ensure higher profits for producers”, said Stephane Passeri, coordinator of the FAO-AFD project.

For GI to increase economic efficiency, the establishment of sustainable and trustful control systems is important. Products must be quality-checked, so buyers can trust the certification system to meet international standards.