Geographical indication law to be made this year
Friday, 6 January 2012
Monira Munni
The government will formulate a geographical indication law within this year in a bid to protect the country's special products and intellectual property, officials said.
Ministry of Industries (MoI) has already started collecting opinions from the business bodies and stakeholders in this connection, they added.
Last week the MoI launched the draft of the Geographical Indication Law 2011 on its website in a bid to elicit public opinion and suggestions throughout the month for formulation of the draft law.
"It takes time for maintaining the procedures of receiving the opinions of stakeholders, experts and business bodies and giving them a final shape," Registrar of Department of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks BM Kamal told the FE Thursday.
"We hope the final law will be enacted by the end of this year," he said.
There was no such law which is very important to protect the special products and intellectual property of the country, he added.
After taking the opinions and suggestions online, the MoI will hold an inter-ministerial meeting with the ministries and stakeholders concerned to discuss the same, he said adding that the draft will then be sent to the law ministry for its vetting.
"Finally it will be placed in parliament for approval," he said.
"Bangladesh has many special territorial products such as hilsha fish, pineapple of Rangamati, muslin and 'tant' sari. Many people are directly dependent on such products for their livelihood," a MoI senior official said.
Bangladeshi hilsha fish and pineapple are unique in their taste and quality, which is not found in other countries, the official said adding "So why should we not protect our special products?"
"If we don't take necessary steps to protect the country's special products and intellectual property, other countries can easily claim the ownership of such things," he explained.
To make those people's lifestyle and livelihood secure, the law is a must so that none can claim the products as their property, he said.
The government will formulate a geographical indication law within this year in a bid to protect the country's special products and intellectual property, officials said.
Ministry of Industries (MoI) has already started collecting opinions from the business bodies and stakeholders in this connection, they added.
Last week the MoI launched the draft of the Geographical Indication Law 2011 on its website in a bid to elicit public opinion and suggestions throughout the month for formulation of the draft law.
"It takes time for maintaining the procedures of receiving the opinions of stakeholders, experts and business bodies and giving them a final shape," Registrar of Department of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks BM Kamal told the FE Thursday.
"We hope the final law will be enacted by the end of this year," he said.
There was no such law which is very important to protect the special products and intellectual property of the country, he added.
After taking the opinions and suggestions online, the MoI will hold an inter-ministerial meeting with the ministries and stakeholders concerned to discuss the same, he said adding that the draft will then be sent to the law ministry for its vetting.
"Finally it will be placed in parliament for approval," he said.
"Bangladesh has many special territorial products such as hilsha fish, pineapple of Rangamati, muslin and 'tant' sari. Many people are directly dependent on such products for their livelihood," a MoI senior official said.
Bangladeshi hilsha fish and pineapple are unique in their taste and quality, which is not found in other countries, the official said adding "So why should we not protect our special products?"
"If we don't take necessary steps to protect the country's special products and intellectual property, other countries can easily claim the ownership of such things," he explained.
To make those people's lifestyle and livelihood secure, the law is a must so that none can claim the products as their property, he said.