This Law, comprising 24 articles, aims to (i) protect the geographical indications; (ii) prevent unauthorized parties from exploiting or imitating such geographical indications in a manner that misleads consumers regarding the true origin of the products. The following are eligible for protection under the System (i) registered national geographical indications recorded in the relevant register; (ii) foreign geographical indications protected in their country of origin and registered in that country’s geographical indications register; (iii) foreign geographical indications protected under international agreements to which Saudi Arabia is a party. Accordingly, the Law applies to agricultural, food, natural, handicraft, and industrial products, including products whose quality, reputation, characteristics, ingredients, materials, components, or production methods are essentially attributable to a specific geographical area. Under Article 4, the Authority shall maintain an official Geographical Indications Register containing registered GIs, their relevant elements, registration applications, and other information required by the Law. Article 8 requires the user manual to specify the product name, description and characteristics, quality, composition, geographical production area, production method, and any other information required by the Regulations. A Grievance Committee reviews appeals against decisions concerning the registration, refusal, or cancellation of geographical indications. The term of registration for a geographical indication shall be ten years, and it may be renewed in accordance with the procedures specified in the Regulations. Article 21 provides criminal penalties for intentional infringement of geographical indications, including unauthorized commercial use or imitation of a GI, imitation of the appearance, packaging, or advertising of GI-protected products in a way that may cause consumer confusion. Violations are punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine.
المملكة العربية السعودية · 2025-11-08