Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan

🔹Today, on April 21, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis adopted the draft law “On the Accession to the Geneva Act (May 20, 2015) of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications.”

🔹According to this document, Uzbekistan will become a member of the Lisbon system, which allows for the international registration of appellations of origin and geographical indications.

🔹Through this system, with a single registration and a unified fee, these objects will receive legal protection in all participating countries for an unlimited period.

🔹According to the law, Uzbekistan will join this international agreement with a declaration stating that legal protection for appellations of origin and geographical indications will be granted only after payment of the established fee and completion of the relevant examination.

🔹As a result of joining this international agreement:
— protection costs for local entrepreneurs abroad will decrease by an average of three times;
— the application process will be simplified and review periods shortened;
— the country’s investment attractiveness will increase, and revenues from patent fees will grow.

🔹Most importantly, this step will help accelerate Uzbekistan’s accession process to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

🔹It should be noted that today Uzbekistan has great potential for effective use of geographical indications. For example, products such as "Chust pichoqlari", "Samarqand nonlari", "Marg'ilon adrasi", and "Xorazm qovunlari" are already recognized in international markets.

🔹Currently, 26 geographical indications and 4 appellations of origin have been registered at the state level, and dozens of promising objects have been identified.

📌 Accession to this agreement will create a solid legal foundation for international registration of local products and their effective protection against illegal use.