A forthcoming Thai Bill on geographical indications (GI) is expected to make significant modifications to Thailand’s Geographical Indications Protection Act B.E. 2546 (2003).

Geographical indications (GIs) are indications that identify a good as originating in the territory of a country, or from a region or locality within that territory, where a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin.  GIs play a crucial role in protecting the unique identity and quality of products associated with a specific geographical area. The anticipated revisions in the upcoming bill aim to reshape Thai GI law and improve the process for registering and protecting GIs.

The bill aims to streamline the objection and counterargument process by specifying the grounds necessary for objections to registrations.  Also, the new bill will reduce the objection filing duration and the timeframe for presenting counterarguments to an objection from 90 days to 60 days.  

Additionally, the bill modifies the penalty framework for GI-related offenses, modifying the penalty from criminal sanctions to regulatory fines and the bill clarifies what acts amount to unauthorized use of GIs.
The upcoming new Thai GI Bill will enhance the protection of GIs, streamline the registration process, and assist to ensure GI products maintain their quality and authenticity.