02/04/2019 (Agence Europe) – On 1 April 2019, Singapore began offering a register of geographical indications (GIs) to GI holders, who will be able to register their GIs and benefit from increased protection. This registration system for geographical indications was one of the European requests implemented under the free trade agreement between the two parties. Once registered in Singapore, approximately 190 GIs for wines, spirits and certain agricultural products will benefit from a level of protection equivalent to that in the EU thanks to this agreement (see EUROPE 12193/1). MEPs, especially Italian MEPs, had expressed concern that the trade agreement had been validated before this system was established (see EUROPE 12152/24). (HD)