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
PAIA Report Deadline – 30 June 2024
Attention all private and public entities; the deadline for submission of your report detailing all the requests for access to [...]
Workplace Discipline: Testing Positive for Cannabis
and S'nenhlanhla Lushaba - Candidate Attorney In the case of Enever v Barloworld Equipment South Africa, A Division of Barloworld [...]
Regulations Regarding the Control of the Import or Export of Waste
and Slade van Rooyen, Candidate Attorney, reviewed by Natalie Scott, Director and Head of Sustainability On 2 October 2023, the [...]
Bulk interception and surveillance and the might of the State
"It’s important to recognize that you can’t have 100 percent security and also then have 100 percent privacy and zero [...]
The nexus: Disinformation, Misinformation, and Privacy in the Age of Gen AI
The risks associated with disinformation and misinformation have reached heights never seen before in the era of Generation AI (Gen [...]
Managing Tax Risks Through Tax Indemnity Insurance
Taxpayers have multiple tax risk management options at their disposal when entering into complex transactions with each option having its [...]
