The law on protection of geographical indications, appellations of origin and traditional specialties guaranteed No. 66-XVI, approved on March 27, 2008 by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, was published in the «Monitorul Oficial al Republicii Moldova» №134-137 of 25.07.2008 and will enter in force in October 25, 2008.

Harmonization of the national legislation with the European one is one of the most important engagements of our country which signed the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the states-members of the European Community on the one hand and the Republic of Moldova on the other hand.

The elaboration of the new law on the protection of trademarks was at first caused by the requirement of harmonization of the norms and standards providing the protection of the protection of the geographical indications appellations of origin and traditional specialties guaranteed with the European standards provided for by the Plan of actions RM-EU, approved by the Decree of Government No. 356 of April 22, 2005, and in the second place, with the need of adjusting the divergences between the provisions of the old law and the realities appearing in the process of use thereof.

Taking in account that up to now there was not a separate legislation, regulating the protection of the geographical indications appellations of origin and traditional specialties guaranteed but only provisions on protection of such IPO in the Law No. 588-XIII of September 22, 1995 on protection of trademarks and appellations of origin, there was taken a decision to elaborate a new separate law draft.