Moldova starts talks with EU on controlled origin agreement
The Moldovan Cabinet of Ministers approved the initiation of talks on the Agreement between Moldova and the European Union on the protection of geographical indications of agricultural and food products, Info-Prim Neo reports.
Economy Minister Valeriu Lazar said that in the context of the negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement with the EU, which are expected to start this year, the European Union asked Moldova to develop a document on products with controlled origin or geographic indications.
The application of this document will safeguard products of this type, both from the EU countries and Moldova. This document is particularly important for the Moldovan wineries and distilleries, said Valeriu Lazar.
In accordance with the Cabinet's decision, before the signing of the agreement, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry in cooperation with the Intellectual Property Agency shall assess the potential output and the areas which could qualify for geographical indications and develop procedures in collaboration with the interested economic entities.
Cricova and Milestii Mici were already assigned geographical indications.