São Paulo – the National Institute of Intellectual Property (Inpi, in the Portuguese acronym) approved the first-ever request for an indication of origin for Brazilian handicraft. The beneficiaries are the artisans who put together earrings, necklaces, purses and household utensils using golden grass in Jalapão, in the state of Tocantins. In order for the certification to become effective, the Association of Golden Grass Artisans of the Jalapão Region (Areja), which filed a request for the certification in 2009, needs to pay the issuance fee for the certificate of registry.
The Inpi grants two types of certificates of geographic indication: denomination of origin and indication of origin. A product is awarded the certificate of denomination of origin it its characteristics are directly linked to the region that it comes from. In turn, the indication of origin, which has been awarded to the golden grass, is related to the tradition, the renown, the fame of the product and the region in which it is produced.
As soon as the fee is paid to the Inpi, Jalapão will become the 10th region of Brazil to be recognized with an indication of origin. However, it is the only one where the products are made by artisans. Other products and regions include coffee from the Brazilian savannah, wine from the Vinhedos Valley (state of Rio Grande do Sul), meat from the Pampa Gaúcho da Campanha Meridional, in the same state, cachaça (cane spirit) from Paraty (state of Rio de Janeiro) and rice from the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul.
The main advantage of the indication of origin certificate is that it leads to an increase in revenues for the producing region. The certificate is known to boost local tourism and raise product prices in Brazil and overseas.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
