The EUIPO supports the OAPI in advancing GI registrations in Africa

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) successfully conducted a series of work sessions together with the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), and organised in the context of EU-funded and EUIPO-implemented IP cooperation project AfrIPI.

The sessions with competent authorities in Gabon and in Mauritania aimed to finalise the registration process for two regionally important geographical indications (GIs): Pierre de Mbigou, and Poutargue Imraguen in the OAPI system.

By means of the workshops, held on different dates between 16 and 19 December 2024, the EUIPO provided a platform for interactive discussions and critical evaluations of the GI reports prepared by the EU-funded AfrIPI project. Through these workshops, the EUIPO aimed to align the GI application process with the OAPI’s registration requirements, ensuring a smooth path towards the regional GI protection and implementation.

The workshops also highlighted the need for collaboration between the producer groups and the OAPI national liaison structures, as well as the need to establish National Committees for GIs in all OAPI Member States, as a crucial step towards effectively managing and promoting GI products in the region.

The registration of these GIs within the OAPI system represents a transformative step toward safeguarding cultural heritage and unlocking significant economic opportunities for the respective regions. Once registered, the GIs will receive legal protection across all 17 OAPI Member States, enhancing market access and recognition at both local and international levels.

Participants included government representatives, staff of the OAPI national liaison structures, members of the national GI committees, GI experts, representatives from GI producer groups, and key actors invested in GI development. This initiative aligns with the African Union’s Continental Strategy for Geographical Indications, which seeks to promote sustainable rural development, economic integration, and the global competitiveness of African products.

The EUIPO, as an international registration authority on geographical indication (GI) and the world's largest provider of GI capacity-building services, builds on years of cooperation in the areas of GIs with the European Commission (DG AGRI), and international and regional Intellectual Property (IP) offices.