Activities

Co-financed by the European Commission under the EC- Thailand Cooperation Facilities Project Programme  2008 of the EC (DCI-ASIE 2008 / 159 903)

1.1: Organize and implement the kick off meeting: operators oriented discussion for the improvement of Thai GIs market performance;

2.1 Organize and implement the Thai GIs lodgers training and follow up;

2.2 Preparation and follow up of Thai GIs application to EU;

1.2 Organize and implement the intermediate meeting: “From Field to Folks”, experience learned in the process to register Thai GIs in EU; 3.1Study draw up: Preliminary assessment of Thai GIs market potential in EU;

1.3 Organize and implement the final meeting: Celebrating the new Thai GIs registered in EU, enlarging EU market visibility in Thailand and making the point for a wider project overall objective achievements.

Activity 1.1 – Kick off meeting

TICC in collaboration with Thailand’s Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) and Bioagricoop scrl, Italy, organized a kick-off seminar “ Pro-GIs project. Intellectual Property Rights Extension & Geographical Indications Protection” on Friday 19 th September 2008 at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani. H.E. Ignazio Di Pace, Italian Ambassador in Thailand, and Mrs. Puangrat Asavapsit, Director-General of DIP and Mr Jean-Jaques Bouflet, Ministry-Counsellor for Trade, the EC Delegation to Thailand, were to be honored in giving the opening remarks.
The seminar was organized for presenting the three years project Pro-GIs, aimed at strengthening GIs food trade flows between EU and increasing value of THAI GIs, through the use of the EU logo.

Photo Gallery

Downloadable documents

- Programme of event
- A Growing Market of opportunities for Geographical Indications by Mr. Giovanni Galanti
- EU Regulationson GIs by Mr. Riccardo Cozzo
- Project Summary, including objectives and strategies by Ms. Michelle Cristell
- Thai Geographical Indication by Mr. Pajchima Tanasanti (Thai)
- Thai Geographical Indication by Ms. Pajchima Tanasanti (Eng)

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Activity 2.1 – One day training for Thai GIs lodgers
This activity aims at transferring to selected Thai GIs lodgers or Thai Typical food operators Associations the theoretical principles of EC Regulation 510/ 2006 and assisting them in implementing practical steps to obtain the European recognition and protection.

In order to ensure the most tangible results from the training and follow up, a previous selection of a pilot group of Thai GIs products/typical food has been carried out among the GIs products already registered according to Thai Act on Protection of GIs. Since the number of Thai typical food with potential as GI or Thai GIs presently registered is quite high (at the March 2009, 19), the project (after consultation with the key national stakeholders) has pointed out four GIs lodgers/Associations to be involved as pilot group in this activity; they concern the following products:

• Chiangrai Phulae Pineapple;
• Doi Chaang Coffee;
• Surin Hom Mali Rice (Thai GI )
• Num Dhog Mai See Thong Bang Khla Mango .

This group of operators got the chance not only to discuss the main contents of EC Regulation but also to learn how to respect them on the field operations and practices. This activity has started up with one day training on the 10th of March 2009 in Bangkok at Richmond Hotel, Nontaburi, Thailand. During this day all selected Thai GIs lodgers/Associations familiari zed with the project purposes and the common path they will follow in order to start their GIs registration according to EC standards. Internal control procedure and EC Regulation requirements has be discussed. The start up training has involved 45 people.

 After the one day training, following the indications of DIP, of the “Office of Commercial Affairs” of the “Ministry of Commerce” and the “Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives” (MOAC) the composition of Pro-GIs project target group has been modified many times because of various considerations (e.g., needed time for registering products as Thai GIs and for certifying as EU GIs; time for collecting some Thai fruits that doesn’t allow to conclude the certification process in time, etc.). In August 2009, the target group included the following products:

• Chiangrai Phulae Pineapple;
• Doi Chaang Coffee;
• Doi Thung Coffee;
• Surin Hom Mali Rice ;
• Phuket Pineapple.

 The Pro-GIs partners have stimulated farmers/collectors/traders of Thai GIs and typical products composing the target group to strengthen or create efficient associations between them. This activity – realized by contacting and meeting operators - has been very hard because some operators didn’t agree the registration of their products as GIs. The efforts in promoting associations’ strengthening have focused in particular on Chiangrai Phulae Pineapple and Phuket Pineapple.

During the implementation of Activity 2.1 it has been realized by Bioagricoop the revision of the draft update of the Manual for Internal Control Procedure and of the draft External Control Plan of Chiangrai Phulae Pineapple, Surim Hom Mali Rice and Doi Thung Coffee for certifying these Thai GIs according to Reg. EC n. 510/2006.

Photo Gallery

Downloadable documents

- Programme of the training for GIs lodgers
- Meeting minutes
- Poster and brochure
- Presentations:

• PRo-GIs: Intellectual Property Right extension & Geographical Indications protection for the benefit of EU-Thai trade - Giovanni Galanti, Bioagricoop scrl Italy;
• Geographical Indications: regulation, certification and inspection procedures - Riccardo Cozzo, Certification Expert;
• Dr. C. Noikean, Bioagricert ltd, Thailand;.

Manual for Internal Control Procedure for certifying selected Thai products of PRo-GIs target group according to Reg. EC n. 510/2006:

• Chiangrai Phulae Pineapple
• Surim Hom Mali Rice.

External Control Plan for certifying selected Thai products of PRo-GIs target group according to Reg. EC n. 510/2006;

• Doi Chaang Coffee;
• Chiangrai Phulae Pineapple
• Surim Hom Mali Rice.

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2.2 Preparation and follow up of Thai GIs application to EU

During the implementation of this Activity, it has been realized firstly a screening of the application for requiring the registration of Doi Chaang Coffee as GI in the EU. On July 21, 2009 during a meeting at EC Delegation in Bangkok, this application has been submitted to a final check before its official presentation to European Commission. This screening - realized by EC Delegation in Thailand, “Doi Chaang Coffee Planters Group and Protecting Group”, Bioagricoop and TICC – has allowed to individualize the exigency of some improvement in the application and to solve some doubts concerning the official presentation of the request of registration. Finally the application for Doi Chaang Coffee registration has been presented to EC Delegation to European Commission during the month of August 2009.

Downloadable documents:

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1.2 Organize and implement the intermediate meeting: “From Field to Folks”

The Thai – Italian Chamber of Commerce (TICC) in cooperation with the Department of Intellectual property (DIP), the Ministry of Commerce organized the intermediate meeting “From Field to Folks, Experience learned in the process to register Thai GIs in EU”. on Friday 6th November 2009 at the Swissotel Nailert Park

The main objective of this meeting was to share the result achieved after one year applying the project and to establish the purpose for the remaining six month time of the project.  The intermediate meeting was finished successfully with more than 100 people participating. The presentations were enriched topics from professional speakers;

- EC Regulation No.510/2006 on the Protection of GI
Mr. Jean-Jaques Bouflet, Minister-Counsellor for Trade, the EC Delegation to Thailand

- Preparation and Registration Procedure of Thai GI products in EU
Ms. Wachara Chamnanwong, Head of GI Section, Department of Intellectual Property, and
Mr. Chanapon Noikeang, Inspector, Bio Agricert Srl

Then, the programme was followed by the panel discussion about GI Products of Thailand from the representatives of Surin, Surin Hom Mali Rice, Mr. Sittiporn Bangkeaw, Doi Tung Coffee, Mr. Thanawat Srikhirin, and Chiangrai Phulae Pineapple, Mrs. Sopa Tha-ai. The Session Moderator was Mr. Apichart Poemchawalit.

Congratulations to Surin Hom Mali Rice and Chiangrai Phulae Pinnaple as they were awarded Certificate of Conformity of GI as the pilot successful thai lodgers.

We thank the main figures participating in the meeting :

Mrs. Pachjima Thanasanti, Director-General, Department of Intellectual Property

Mr. Jean-Jaques Bouflet, Minister-Counsellor for Trade, EC Delegation to Thailand

Mr. Marco Midolo, Counsellor, (Commercial), The Embassy of Italy

Mr. Ekkamon Hutasingh, President, Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Lino Geretto, Vice President, Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Luca Vianelli, Vice President, Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Giovanni Galanti, Project Director, Bioagricoop

And also representative from the Embassy of Italy, The EC delegation, the Italian Trade Commission (ICE), German.

Photo gallery

Downloadable documents:  

- Programme of the event
- EC Regulation No.510/2006 on the Protection of GI
- Pro GIs Project : Overview & Update By Mr. Sandro Zanello, Secretary General, Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce
- Preparation and Registration Procedure of Thai GI products in EU By Ms. Wachara Chamnanwong, Head of GI Section, Department of Intellectual Property,
- Preparation and Registration Procedure of Thai GI products in EU By Mr. Chanapon Noikeang, Inspector, Bio Agricert Srl
- Registration Procedure of Surin Homali Rice   By Mr. Sittiporn Bangkeaw
-Poster

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1.3 Organize and implement the final meeting: Celebrating the new Thai GIs registered in EU, enlarging EU market visibility in Thailand and making the point for a wider project overall objective achievements.