Japan premium beef, melons get brand protection

AFP,TOKYO: Champagne, Melton Mowbray pork pies and Gorgonzola cheese are to be joined by Kobe beef and eye-wateringly expensive Yubari melons as protected products after Japan Tuesday granted them a special status.
A total of seven products including Kobe beef and the melons from the northern of island of Hokkaido were added to a list of Japanese geographical indications, the farm ministry said.
With the designation, anyone who uses the registered brands without permission could face penalties.
"We'll promote the registration of geographic indications and increase demand (for premium farm products) inside and outside Japan," Hiroshi Moriyama, agriculture minister, told a press conference.
The World Intellectual Property Organization on its website defines a geographical indication as "a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin".
The government hopes to boost exports of made-in-Japan premium agriculture products as local farmers could face competition from cheaper imports with the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact.

Japan premium beef, melons get brand protection

AFP,TOKYO: Champagne, Melton Mowbray pork pies and Gorgonzola cheese are to be joined by Kobe beef and eye-wateringly expensive Yubari melons as protected products after Japan Tuesday granted them a special status. A total of seven products including Kobe beef and the melons from the northern of island of Hokkaido were added to a list of Japanese geographical indications, the farm ministry said. With the designation, anyone who uses the registered brands without permission could face penalties. Well promote the registration of geographic indications and increase demand (for premium farm products) inside and outside Japan, Hiroshi Moriyama, agriculture minister, told a press conference. The World Intellectual Property Organization on its website defines a geographical indication as a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. The government hopes to boost exports of made-in-Japan premium agriculture products as local farmers could face competition from cheaper imports with the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact.