On July 21, 2026, the Government of Serbia deposited its instrument of accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indication (“Geneva Act”).
With this accession, the Geneva Act now offers protection in 29 Contracting Parties covering up to 62 countries, while the Lisbon System covers up to 73 countries in total.
This accession will allow Serbia to protect both its appellations of origin and geographical indications under the Geneva Act, including those in the non-agricultural product category such as ZLAKUSA (pottery), but also its renowned appellations of origin and geographical indications in the agricultural and food product categories such as FRUŠKOGORSKI LIPOV MED (lime tree honey) or LESKOVAČKI DOMAĆI AJVAR (processed paprika), and those in the wine and spirits categories, such as BERMET (aromatized wine), to name only a few.
The Geneva Act will enter into force with respect to Serbia on October 21, 2026.
About the Geneva Act
The Geneva Act helps producers of quality products, linked to origin, to protect the distinctive designations of their products in multiple jurisdictions, either as appellations of origin or geographical indications, through a single application filed with WIPO, and the payment of one set of fees.
About the Lisbon System
The Lisbon System provides protection for names that identify the geographic origin of products such as coffee, tea, fruits, cheese, wine, pottery, glass and cloth.
Examples of appellations of origin and geographical indications
- KAMPOT PEPPER (Cambodia)
- KAMPOT-KEP SALT (Cambodia)
- COMTÉ (France)
- TOKAJ (Hungary)
- SAROUGH HANDMADE CARPET (Iran)
- TEQUILA (Mexico)
- PORTO (Portugal)
- CHULUCANAS (Peru)
- BANANO DE COSTA RICA (Costa Rica)
- GRANA PADANO (Italy)
- PARMIGIANO-REGIANO (Italy)
- BOHEMIA CRYSTAL (Czech Republic)
- FIGUE DE DJEBBA (Tunisia)