Georgia bans Armenia from exporting dairy product ‘Matsun’ due to similarity with Georgian Matsoni

The Armenian Economy Ministry says that Georgia has banned the country from exporting a dairy product to Russia via Georgia under the name of Matsun, as Georgia has the name “Matsoni” registered as a geographical trademark.

 

Accordingly, Armenia started exporting its products to Russia under the name of “Armenian Mountain Yogurt” which visually and in taste is very similar to Matsoni. 

 

Back in 2011, the State Agency for Intellectual Property of Armenia applied to the relevant EU and Georgian authorities against the registration of the name “Matsoni” by Georgia on the grounds that this name might have been confusing. 
However, the appeal was not considered. 

 

According to the representative of the Ministry of Economy of Armenia, a bilateral agreement on the recognition and protection of geographical indications has been  discussed at the recent  sitting of the Georgian-Armenian Joint Government Commission. 

 

The list of geographical names of both countries will be discussed within the joint working group, said the ministry.

 

Matsoni has reportedly been produced in Georgia since the Antic period and spread from other Caucasian countries, including in Armenia.