Brazilian indigenous products get seal of origin

Brazil’s federal government launched a designation of origin for products made by indigenous communities. The seal identifies the origin of family farming, extractive, and artisanal products, and requests for certification were opened on January 5.

Multiple reports published by the World Intellectual Property Organization defend that designations of origin and geographical indications can be powerful tools to promote the economic development of a determined territory — allowing producers to become known and position themselves as exclusive holders of high-quality and prestigious products.

A model of the seal for Brazilian indigenous producers, published in the Federal Gazette, shows the image of a basket of vegetables, with a blank space below it to identify the peoples responsible for the product.

To obtain the designation, applicants must submit to the federal indigenous authority Funai a declaration of compliance with environmental and indigenous legislation, along with the application and meeting minutes of the community. The seal is valid for five years and can be renewed six months before expiration.

The seal is a joint initiative by Funai and the Indigenous Peoples and Agrarian Development ministries.

In a statement, the government said that the seal will encourage “sustainable consumption, in addition to generating income and contributing to regional development.”

The government added that the seal “brings consumers closer to indigenous culture, which contributes so much to the construction of the identity of the Brazilian people.”

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