The European Commission confirmed yesterday that Kampot pepper has been fully recognized by the EU after it was registered in the European market last month with a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) – the first Cambodian product to receive the status.
Geographical Indications (GIs) are a type of intellectual property that identifies a product as originating in a particular country and has been obtained through specific production methods. According to a statement from the European Delegation to Cambodia, GIs are crucial in the EU, where there is a rich history of local and specialist agriculture products, with many closely linked to their place of origin.
“GIs can protect and preserve intellectual property related to traditional cultures, geographical diversity and production methods.
“In Cambodia, through its development cooperation, the EU supported the Association for the Promotion of Kampot Pepper in their effort to promote and better market their high quality product,” the statement said.
The pepper’s recognition by the union will protect it on the EU market against imitations, and evocations of the name, avoiding non-genuine Kampot pepper which might damage its reputation.
Nguon Lay, president of Kampot pepper promotion association, told Khmer Times that the goal of listing the pepper on the EU market was so that all 28 countries in the bloc could not use the name of Mrech Kampot for their products or their business. Mr. Lay said that that as a result of its recognition and its growing annual harvest, the quality of Kampot pepper will be known all over the world.
“Last year’s Kampot pepper harvest received 60 tons and expect to reach to 80 tons this year, with exports to the EU, Korea, US and Taiwan,” he said.
“We are now expanding the pepper plantation to grow more pepper to meet demand,” he said, adding that GI recognition meant there would be no surplus of Kampot pepper.
The EU hopes the famous pepper can lead the charge for other Cambodian products to be recognized, according to the delegation’s statement. “The registration of this Cambodian flagship GI should pave the way for further registration of GI products from Cambodia, as this success story could be transposed to other Cambodian high-quality products.”