GI products hit hard by disaster
Thai geographic indication (GI) products have been heavily affected by floods, suffering losses of at least Bt583 million in 12 provinces.
Pajchima Tanasanti, director-general of the Intellectual Property Department of the Commerce Ministry, said proprietors of GI products such as Kalasin’s Khao Wong sticky rice, Thung Kula Ronghai Hom Mali rice, Nakhon Chaisi pomelo, Bang Kla coconut, Nonthaburi durian, Koh Kred clay pottery, and Jek Choey Saohai rice had complained that their products had been severely damaged.
The loss estimate of Bt583 million could be exceeded, as the department has not fully assessed the damage in some provinces, while some producers have also lost trading opportunities, Pajchima said. She also expressed concern about the quality of GI products in the future, as some plantation areas have been damaged, which could affect the soil quality. She said the department would closely monitor the impact of the natural disaster and help maintain the quality of GI products.
The GI system protects a product from copycats by certifying that it comes from a certain area and has characteristics that cannot be replicated elsewhere. It is supposed to add value to the product and prevent competitors using the area’s name and misleading the public about a product’s origins.
To help affected enterprises recover, the department has sent officers to survey the damage after the floods have begun to recede. It is also working on assisting rehabilitation of damaged areas by negotiating lower planting costs and extending periods for debt payment. The department also plans to organise a fair to promote commercialisation of copyrighted and GI products for both the domestic and overseas markets.
It reported that applications for intellectual-property (IP) rights including patents, copyrights and trademark registration were down by 45 per cent year on year from 7,876 to 4,317 applications between October 1 and November 15.
Nevertheless, the crisis has created opportunities for innovators, Pajchima said. Many entrepreneurs have applied for IP rights for flood-relief products. These include pumps adjustable to the water level, water-quality management, flood barriers, tsunami-escape balls, raft houses, plastic bags to protect assets from floods, housing container,??? toilet bags, multipurpose sweepers, protective plastic suits and a boat-bicycle.
New enterprises have also registered trademarks for such flood-relief goods include 'Bio-bar', as a biochemical substance for improving water quality. , and 'Glass Pants'??? to protect body from floods
