New opportunities for GI protection in Canada; food brands warned to tread carefully

Major changes to Canada’s system of geographical indication (GI) rights come into force this week as a result of amendments to the country’s Trademarks Act. The range of goods eligible for GI rights will expand significantly, and compliance with the new protections will become more onerous. While playing to the advantage of famous regional producers, the reforms create risks and liabilities for many food businesses previously unaffected by GI rules.