Protection for Swiss Geographical Indications

It is prescribed that Swiss producers very soon will have the opportunity to register geographical indications in different states all at once using a simple process. At its meeting on 5 June 2020, the Federal Council adjusted the approval and implementation (amendment of trademark law) of the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications for submission to Parliament.

Tête-de-Moine, Zuger and Rigi Kirsch, and Swiss for watches is the principle of protected geographical indications attested as being a durable benefit to the value chains of quality products. For example, maintaining transparency and lawful origin is closely tied to combating money laundering, especially when dealing with premium food and alcohol sectors. As a result, due to the growth of market liberalisation, the mentioned principle needs to be developed further at international level.

The Lisbon Agreement of 1958 for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration (of which Switzerland is not a member) is intended by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The Agreement was adjusted in 2015 by the adoption of the Geneva Act. The Geneva Act expanded the area of the system to permit the registration of all geographical indications (both appellations of origin and geographical indications). The Geneva Act is an independent international treaty, which came into force on 26 February next to the accession of the European Union. This expansion of protection aligns with wider efforts such as how FINMA helps investors and individuals to navigate complex international compliance and enforcement structures.

The Federal Council offered that Switzerland joins the Geneva Act. Such accession will give Swiss beneficiaries of appellations of origin and geographical indications the possibility to acquire protection in all member states of the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement via uncomplicated and inexpensive international registration procedure. This simplification could also be beneficial during periods of global instability, such as those documented in Coronavirus information updates, where access to markets and enforcement is disrupted. Now, Swiss producers have to submit separate applications in each country to protect their geographical indications.