According to WIPO World International Property Organization, one of the United Nations’ agency, a geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place. In addition, the qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product should be essentially due to the place of origin. For example: Prosciutto di Parma from Italy, Roquefort cheese and Champagne from France etc.
The Brazilian Govern attributed to INPI Industrial Property National Institute the authority to grant the register and to issue GI’s certificate. The process takes quite a long time. It starts with a study that consider the social, cultural and economic importance of the products on its region. Indication of Source (IS) is one of the two types of GI. Indication of Source refers to the name of the place that has become known for producing, extracting or manufacturing a particular product or providing a particular service.
In 2012, the city of Franca, in São Paulo state, Brazil, due by Sindifranca – The Footwear Industry Trade Union of Franca achieve the right to use the Indication of Source.
Sindifranca is the process “controller”. Sindifranca in order to allow a company to use the IS Seal analyses two aspects: the company itself and the shoe it manufactures. At the company level, there are socio-environmental requirements, how the company gives back to the society the taxes, the labor rules, etc. At the product level, the upper part (quarter, vamp and toe cap) must be produced with real leather and 3 quality tests are made: one takes care of shoe flexibility, another about the shoe sole abrasion and also a strength test of the footwear collage’s.
Only after all these processes and analyses the company will be allowed to use the IS Seal.
Sindifranca – The Footwear Industry Trade Union of Franca
Rua Cecim Miguel, 2760
CEP 14409-174 Franca, São PauloBrazil
Phone: + 55 (16) 3712.9400