Caribbean Export OUTLOOK 2016 - 2017

Clearing the Hurdles

To date, there are very few GIs registered in the CARIFORUM region, with only the Dominican Republic being successful thus far in registering national GIs for commodities including coffee and cocoa.

successfully passed the opposition period and it is anticipated that it will shortly be declared a GI. Other countries within the region are at varying stages of determining the best suite of IP tools to utilise to brand their agricultural products and are preparing to file national GI applications for a number of commodities, including nutmeg, cocoa and rum. While there is limited empirical evidence of the economic impact of GIs within the region, it is generally accepted that a well implemented GI system can have socio-economic and cultural benefits for producers and other stakeholders within the geographical production area. In addition to price premium, these benefits include themaintenance of cultural heritage and

for registration of the GI. In the case of regional producers, existing commodity organisations and associations such as the Nutmeg Association in Grenada or the Toledo Cacao Growers Association in Belize, serve as a collective body of producers along their commodity value chain which can apply for a GI at the national level and establish a management system for the GI, inclusive of enforcing theGI nationally, regionally and internationally. To date, there are very few GIs registered in the CARIFORUM region, with only the Dominican Republic being successful thus far in registering national GIs for commodities including coffee and cocoa. The Jamaica Jerk Association has filed a GI application for Jamaica Jerk which has

traditional knowledge, increased entrepreneurial activity in related areas such as agro-tourism, as well as increased social and environmental development of select communities. An example can be drawn from the Toledo Cacao Growers Association which has a membership of small farmers of Mayan descent, with each farmer operating on less than 10 acres of land. The farmers, through the association, have both organic and Fair Trade certification, which allows them to obtain a premium price for their cacao through a strategic partnershipwith international retailers. This premiumallows for the association tomake payments to theirmembers above average market price and to engage in development projects targeting their members and their communities.

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