EU-NZ Free Trade Agreement: Review of geographical indications law

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.

We have released a discussion paper that invites the public, and in particular producers and retailers, to provide us 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 we recommend extending the current registration regime, we would also seek approval to undertake further public consultation on what other products could be registered.

Please 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.

Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Act 2006 No 60 (as at 12 April 2022), Public Act Contents(external link) — New Zealand Legislation