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
ChatGPT: Yet Another Hurdle for Data Privacy?
Data Privacy & Cybercrime ChatGPT is an OpenAI[1] developed artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot which has been programmed to have advanced conversational [...]
When your data depository and platform are the biggest, competition law becomes important or a problematic weapon!
"...In so doing, Google has engaged in exclusionary conduct that has severely weakened, if not destroyed, competition in the ad [...]
The Twitter data hack
Data Privacy & Cybercrime by Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Head of Regulatory Practice and Chiara Ferri, Candidate Attorney In the first week [...]
Re-inventing the wheel or balancing the scales?
Digitalisation, globalisation and the COVID-19 pandemic have made certain online platforms (along with their products and services) integral to the [...]
The FAFT, trusts and transparency in South Africa
Over the past 10 years, there has been large-scale domestic and international financial fraud in South Africa. Sometimes, trusts and [...]
Budget Speech 2023/2024: Tax Overview
Budget Speech: Tax Overview By: The Werksmans Tax & Exchange Control Team Download PDF INTRODUCTION Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana [...]
