Written by CGCOM Tuesday, July 17, 2012
On July 17 the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (INPI) allowed two applications for Geographical Indication. The first one refers to the name Salinas as an indication of origin for a distilled alcoholic sugar cane beverage, a.k.a. cachaça. The second one indicates the State of Paraíba for textile products made of colored cotton. The certification guarantees the origin and therefore the quality of products sold with a specific name, adding value to the business and safety for the consumer.
Salinas, in the State of Minas Gerais, is actually the second Brazilian region to be officially recognized as an indication of origin for the cachaça production by the BPTO. The first one was Paraty, in the State of Rio de Janeiro.
Besides Salinas, the region that is now protected under indication of source comprehends other municipalities in the north of Minas Gerais, such as Novorizonte, and part of Taiobeiras, Rubelita, Santa Cruz de Salinas and Fruta de Leite. According to the Association of Cachaça Producers, as of the start of production until today, the hand-made process of production has remained the same, resisting to technological changes after all these years.
In contrast, the recognition of Paraiba as a cotton producer area is justified by its technology. In fact, due to researches developed by Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation’s ), the State of Paraíba, which had registered a drop in the cotton production in the 80ies, has resumed the cotton plantation with a novelty: the cotton is naturally colored.
A genetic modification of the color varieties began in 1989. Since then, 35 new cotton strains have been observed in the cities of Patos and Monteiro, both of them located in Paraíba. As a result of that, Campina Grande and its neighboring area in Paraiba have become major centers of cotton production, recognized throughout the country.
The cooperative of 31 associates turns colored cotton plumes into clothes and household textile articles. With the leftover fabrics, they manufacture clothes for dolls, pets and children. The cooperative is currently exporting toys and pillows made with naturally colored cotton to Europe.