The Act To Implement CETA Comes Into Force And Extends Protection To Additional Geographical Indications

Most of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Implementation Act (CETA Implementation Act) came into force on September 21, 2017. Among other things, this Act expands protection for geographical indications (GIs) and is of interest for anyone involved in the agri-food industry in Canada.

A GI means an indication that identifies a product as originating in a territory, a region or a city, where a quality, reputation or other characteristic of that product is essentially attributable to its geographical origin. A GI is overseen by a responsible authority having a state or a trade interest.

Under the Trade-marks Act, no person may adopt or use, in connection with a business, as a trade-mark or otherwise, a GI or a translation of the GI in respect of a product belonging to the same category as the one identified by the GI unless it originates in the territory covered by the GI.