The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is asking for feedback on the Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Act 2006 as part of reforms needed to meet negotiated terms of New Zealand’s FTA with the European Union.
MBIE is reviewing the Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Act 2006 following negotiation of a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU-NZ FTA).
The Government needs to make changes to the Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Act 2006 (the GIs Act) to register the EU GIs it has agreed to protect under the EU-NZ FTA. This provides an opportunity to review parts of the GIs Act that either have not been reviewed for a long time or where the EU-NZ FTA terms may create inequities.
MBIE has released a discussion paper that invites the public, and in particular producers and retailers, to provide them with information about how they use GIs and if the system can be improved to make use easier and more equitable.
Information provided in submissions will be used to develop advice to the Government on amendments to the GIs Act. This advice will also include a recommendation on whether to extend the current GIs registration regime to non-wine and spirits products.
Should MBIE recommend extending the current registration regime, it would also seek approval to undertake further public consultation on what other products could be registered.
(Note this is not a consultation on the terms of the EU-NZ FTA as negotiations have concluded and there is no further opportunity to renegotiate).
For more information, and to have your say, please visit MBIE’s website. This consultation closes on 28 February 2023.
