A ceremony was held in Da Nang on Thursday to announce the decision and receive the "Nam O" geographical indication protection certificate for the city's fish sauce products.

Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi speaking at the ceremony. Photo: VAN HOANG

The event also celebrated the 5^th anniversary of the recognition of the traditional craft of making fish sauce in Nam O Village in Lien Chieu District as part of national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

In her remarks at the ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi said that the geographical indication "Nam O" for fish sauce products was one of three geographical indications for fish sauce products across the country, including Phu Quoc, Phan Thiet and Nam O fish sauce.

This was an important legal basis for traditional Nam O fish sauce production and trading establishments to enhance their reputation, develop the market, protect the value of product quality and origin, increase competitiveness, and boost consumption in both domestic and foreign markets.

Vice Chairwoman Thi requested Lien Chieu District authorities to use the geographical indication "Nam O" effectively, and grant the right to use the geographical indication to members of the Nam O Traditional Fish Sauce Craft Village Association to develop products.

Importance should be attached to advertising fish sauce products bearing the geographical indication "Nam O" in many forms of media, developing a distribution network associated with quality control and traceability, and rolling out solutions to develop Nam O fish sauce products in key export markets, she noted.

Deputy Director of the Intellectual Property Department Tran Le Hong (right) and Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi (left) presenting "Nam O" geographical indication protection certificate and congratulatory flowers to leaders of Lien Chieu District People's Committee. Photo: VAN HOANG

She also urged the municipal Department of Science and Technology to coordinate and guide the People's Committee of Lien Chieu District to issue documents to manage the geographical indication "Nam O" for fish sauce products; support in identifying organisations and individuals participating in the use of geographical indications to members of the Nam O Traditional Fish Sauce Craft Village Association; and organize training courses to raise awareness and capacity for subjects on geographical indications.

She stressed the necessity for enterprises, production facilities, and association members to improve their sense of responsibility and make commitments to ensure product quality and standards in order to maintain reputation and product quality and develop and protect the Nam O fish sauce brand.

According to the municipal Department of Science and Technology, after nearly two years of implementation, the geographical indication "Nam O" for fish sauce products has been granted a protection certificate by the Department of Intellectual Property under Decision No. 437/QD-SHTT June 3, 2024 of the National Office of Intellectual Property. This is the first geographical indication for a product of the city.

The Department of Science and Technology will continue to support Lien Chieu District People's Committee in developing "Nam O" geographical indication. The focus will be on establishing a model to manage, use and develop products bearing geographical indication according to the value chain associated with traceability and product quality management; registering the right to use the geographical indication "Nam O" for production facilities and individuals; and improving quality and diversifying products.

Reporting by VAN HOANG - Translating by M.DUNG, P.TRA