A study case on coffee (Coffea arabica): Limu Coffe - IRD

“In respect of the geographical indications and designations of origin relating to a
geographical area in a third country, verification of compliance with the specifications,
before placing the product on the market, shall be ensured by: one or more public authorities
designated by the third country and/or one or more product certification bodies.” The Limu
Inara Multi-Purpose Cooperative Union last production was certified by the international BCS
Okö organic certifier, and recently appealed to other companies in order to renew its organic
certification while the Suntu State Farm is currently certified by the UTZ certifier on all its
farms. Moreover since the government banned coffee exports due to Japanese complaints in
summer 2008 and entitled the Ethiopian Quality Standards Authority as the certifier of the
certifiers, Limu coffee quality is both guaranteed by national and foreign certification bodies.
Adaptability
Conflicts can rise between IPRs systems and customary and traditional cultural
property rights since GIs constitute an institution transfer from their original European
framework to developing countries in this <strong>case</strong>. GIs as an instrument of IP protection have
specific features which, in contrast to other IPRs, are considered relatively more amenable to
the customary practices of indigenous communities. The GIs three points are a collective
right, inalienability and imprescriptibly which could adapt to Ethiopian land property rules for
example since land is considered as Ethiopian collective property and that sale is forbidden.
Thus knowledge remains in the public domain and rights are potentially held in perpetuity.
Agro tourism
GIs act to publicise the localities and regions that they use for their names. Some agro
tourism is already developing in Limu surroundings in places as Agaro (Choche), Bonga, etc.
and more generally in the historical Kaffa forest belt dispatched into Kaffa, Ilubabor and Jima
zones where birthplaces are claimed in a political game.
140