Legal updates and opinions
News / News
South Africa: Recognition and Protection of Karoo Lamb as a Geographical Indication
South African Geographical Indication’s (“GI”) include Rooibos (Western Cape), Honeybush (Eastern Cape and Western Cape), and several wine GIs including Stellenbosch, Constantia and Paarl, which are all recognised as GIs under various legislation. Karoo Lamb / Karoo Lam’ is the first South African product to be registered as a geographical indication under South Africa’s Agricultural Products Standards Act.
The Act controls and promotes specific product standards (e.g. meat, dairy products) notably from a quality point of view both locally and for export.
Geographical Indications (“GIs”) are signs on products which denote qualities and characteristics which are as a consequence of origin. The protection and enforcement of GIs promote the exclusivity of products from specific regions and boost local economies
Karoo Lamb has been granted GI status due to its distinctive qualities, supported by evidence as a result of extensive research. Its unique taste and texture are attributed to the Karoo lamb’s diet, which primarily consists of Fynbos in the semi-desert natural landscape of the Karoo.
Only lamb exclusive to the Karoo may now carry this GI with the Act making it an offence to use a mark, in connection with the sale of an agricultural product, that conveys or creates a false or misleading impression as to, amongst others, the quality or place of production of such product.
MEET THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TEAM
Janine Hollesen
Director, Head of Intellectual Property
Donvay Wegierski
Director
Bontle Monnya
Associate
Danielle Fiff
Associate
Latest News
Bafana Bafana’s World Cup qualification hanging by a thread
by Brendan Olivier, Director and Daniel Gewer, Candidate Attorney Bafana Bafana's prospects of taking to the field at next year's [...]
ESG, the key to sustaining the construction sector?
by Justin Duarte, Candidate Attorney, reviewed by Natalie Scott, Director and Head of Sustainability and Jennifer Smit, Director and Head [...]
SME cashflow threats: ensuring that your security offers a protection against payment default
by Brendan Olivier, Director It's becoming all-too-common: an SME that provides goods and services on credit to a major supplier [...]
SME cashflow threats: ensuring that your contracts are worth more than the paper they are written on
by Brendan Olivier, Director When a key commercial supplier, or valued customer that is benefiting from long-standing payment terms and [...]
The Road Ahead: The SCA Gives Green Light to Vehicle Lenders “On the Road Fees” Under the NCA – Subject to Strict Disclosure Requirements
by Armand Swart, Director In a recent judgment, the Supreme Court of Appeal ("SCA") considered if, in terms of the [...]
You can’t have it both ways: Contractors who act like businesses must live with the consequences
by Bradley Workman-Davies, Director When you run your work as a business, invoice for your services, and elect to [...]