House Bill 2894/26 prohibits the creation or application of technical regulations that impose requirements incompatible with the traditional characteristics that underpin the recognition of Geographical Indications (GIs) in Brazil. The proposal is under review by the Chamber of Deputies and amends the Industrial Property Law (Law 9.279/96).
Geographical Indications are official records that identify products or services whose reputation, quality or characteristics are linked to their geographical origin.
According to the bill, regulatory and oversight bodies may not demand changes to traditional recipes or production processes that would alter the identity of a product recognized as a Geographical Indication.
The measure aims to prevent conflicts between technical rules and traditional production methods. One case cited in the proposal is an attempt to alter rules for the production of the traditional Blumenau Sausage, in Santa Catarina. The bill also seeks to protect other Brazilian products recognized by their origin, such as Canastra Cheese, wines from the Vale dos Vinhedos region, and coffee from the Mineiro Cerrado region.
The author, Deputy Pezenti (MDB-SC), states that the change contributes to preserving the cultural and economic heritage of producing regions. “Geographical Indications are a tool for valuing traditions, culture, and the work developed over generations. It makes no sense to alter all of this due to incompatible demands exactly contrary to the region's characteristics," argued the deputy.
Next Steps
The proposal will be analyzed onConclusive natureThe text: "It was approved by the committees on Industry, Trade and Services; and on Constitution, Justice and Citizenship. To become law, the text must be approved by both the Chamber and the Senate."