Recommendation for a Council Decision authorising the European Commission to negotiate an Agreement with the CARIFORUM States to protect geographic indications based on Article 145 of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement

The CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) establishes the level of protection of geographical indications, terms of protection and other parameters. However, no list of protected geographical indications has been established under this Agreement. For this reason, the EPA contains a rendezvous clause requiring the parties to complete the provisions on geographical indications and to establish the list of protected geographical indications.

Around 180 EU geographic indications will be protected against misuse and counterfeiting in CARIFORUM States and up to 30 CARIFORUM States geographic indications will be protected in the EU. The Agreement will foresee regular updates of the list, to ensure the reciprocal protection of new geographical indications.