Chilean products with seal of origin that travel the world

In Chile, there are 36 products with protection against unfair competition.  

The year 2021 marks nine years since the ‘limón de Pica’ (a small green lime) became the first Chilean product to earn a seal of origin. As of that moment, only producers from the area of Pica are authorized to offer that lemon variety on the market under that specific name. 

Recently, Cerámica de Pañul in the O’Higgins region has also qualified for this legal protection. A total of 36 products created in or extracted from 13 regions in Chile meet the National institute of intellectual Property’s (INAPI) definition for protection. 

Providing protection against unfair competition and potential consumer confusion, the measure aims to promote local business, thereby promoting appreciation of goods unique to Chile.

“Associations throughout the country have shown growing interest in protecting their traditional products with the seal of origin,” said INAPI National Director, Loreto Bresky. She says this trend confirms that entrepreneurs see the industrial property system as a useful and valuable tool for setting themselves apart in the market and becoming more competitive. 

Chilean Economy Minister Lucas Palacios highlighted that purchasing a product with the seal of origin supports local business and associativity. “It is a very powerful tool for protecting those whose livelihood comes from making or extracting products that are unique to Chile and deserve fair compensation.” 

He commented that the government will continue to promote this program and defend producers by “recovering and showcasing our traditions.” 

A breakdown of the figures 

An analysis of the types of products that have received the seal shows that 55.5% are food items, 30.5% are traditional crafts and 13.8% are fermented beverages . The latter includes traditional beer from Valdivia and cider from Punucapa (in the Los Ríos Region of southern Chile). 

The Valparaíso Region, including its island territory, leads the list with 21% of the total seals INAPI has granted to date. This list includes ‘la joya del Pacífico ’ (the jewel of the Pacific), ‘cangrejo dorado’ (Juan Fernández Island Goldencrab or chaceon chilensi), ‘langosta de Juan Fernández’ (Juan Fernández rock lobster or jasus frontalis ) and ‘atún de la Isla de Pascua’ (yellowfin tuna  or thunnus albacares). 

Representing the next largest groups on the list are the Metropolitan Region of Santiago and La Araucanía Region, which hold 15.7% and 10.5% of the seals, respectively. Their product offering includes ‘Chicha de Curacaví’ (a fermented and cooked grape juice), ‘alfarería de Pomaire’ (clay pottery) and the famous ‘prosciutto de Capitán Pastene’. 

There are four types of seals: geographic indication, denomination of origin, collective brands and certification brands. The first, as the name suggests is associated with the place, while the second is related to human factors that influence the characterization and reputation of the product. The last two refer to product offerings with distinctive symbols tied to an association or common characteristics. 

To learn more about local products and business opportunities for foreign investment in Chile, read the following article.  

Source: Diario Financiero