Policy considerations of adopting Geographical Indication protection in South Africa

Geographical Indications are goods that derive the uniqueness of their quality from the region where they originate. Provision for protection of such goods is provided for in the TRIPS Agreement among WTO member countries. This policy brief looks at some international examples where goods have been protected based on a Geographical Indication status in attempting to draw out some lessons on the costs and benefits of protecting goods with this status, and whether such a regime should be introduced in South Africa.