Rebeka Mesarić Žabčić1
Goce Naumovski2
1Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar-Zagreb, Croatia
2Saints Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Justinian I Law Faculty, North Macedonia
DOI:
UDC: 331.101.264.2-053:303.71(497.7)”2002/2021”
Published: August 2026
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Keywords: intellectual property, geographical indications, wine industry, Croatian law, Macedonian law
Abstract
This study analyzes the legal framework regulating geographical indications (GIs) in a societal and economic context and assesses their importance for the economy. The authors employ historical, comparative, and normative methods to explore geographical indications across various categories of goods and services. The analysis specially refers to geographical indications in the wine industry, particularly from the aspect of their main function: to enhance value by indicating a product’s origin and quality characteristics. The text provides an analysis of the Croatian legal framework and assesses how closely the Macedonian legal sources align with EU legislation. Several conclusions are presented regarding the necessity for ongoing training of producer groups, the business sector, and pertinent agencies to enhance the acknowledgment, enforcement, and protection of GIs.
References:
Buchkovski, V., Naumovski, G., Gavrilovic N., Vuchen, F.: Geographical indications protection in the Republic of Macedonia with reference to wines. Collection with Papers of the Fifth National Seminar with International Participation 26th April 2017, University of Library Studies and Information Technologies, University Youth Knowledge Academy. Sofia, pp. 41-52.
Mesić, Ž., Božić, M., Cerjak M.: The impact of geographical indications on the competitiveness of traditional agri-food products, Journal of Central European Agriculture, 2017, 18 (1) pp. 1-14.
Milotić, I.: Teran u Istri: povijesno, ampelografsko, enološko i pravno gledište, Istarska županija, Pazin 2017, pp. V-VI.
Akimovska, M.P., Naumovski, G., Chapkanov, D., Nedelkovski, B., Zlatev, S.: Analysis of Macedonian Legislation Related to Viticultural Geographical Indications. In: Pellat, G., Zafiroski, J., Šuplata, M. (eds) Cooperation and Enlargement: Two Challenges to be Addressed in the European Projects—2022. Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, vol 500, 2024, pp. 189-216.
Naumovski, G.: Geographical Indications in Macedonian Law WIPO Research Papers from the WIPO-WTO Colloquium for Teachers of Intellectual Property Law. Geneva, pp. 69–79.
Zakon o vinu, Narodne novine br. 32/2019.
Law on Industrial Property (LIP) Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia, 21/09, 24/11, 12/14, 41/14, 152/15, 53/16, 83/18, 31/20, 86/25.
Law on Quality of Agricultural Products, Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia 140/ 10, 53/11, 55/12, 106/13, 116/15, 149/15,.193/15, 39/16.
Law on Wine, Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia, No.74/24.
Law on Agricultural and Rural Development, Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia ,49/10, 53/11, 126/12, 15/13, 69/13, 106/13, 177/14, 25/15, 73/15, 83/15, 154/15, 11/16, 53/16, 120/16, 163/16.
Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia 77/10.
Consolidated text: Regulation (EU) No 251/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the definition, description, presentation and labelling of aromatized wine products and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1601/91.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 of 17 October 2018 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards applications for protection of designations of origin, geographical indications and traditional terms in the wine sector, the objection procedure, restrictions of use, amendments to product specifications, cancellation of protection, and labelling and presentation.
Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 352/78, (EC) No 165/94, (EC) No 2799/98, (EC) No 814/2000, (EC) No 1290/2005 and (EC) No 485/2008.