Article 8 of the Saudi Geographical Indications Law
المادة 8 من نظام حماية المؤشرات الجغرافية · الفصل الثاني: تسجيل المؤشر الجغرافي
The usage guide must contain the product name, its description, characteristics and production region, a description of the production method, and any other elements set by the Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب أن يتضمن دليل الاستعمال العناصر والبيانات الآتية:
1- اسم المـنتَج.
2- وصف المـنتَج، مع بيان خصائصه ونوعيته والعناصر الداخلة في تركيبته، والمنطقة الجغرافية لإنتاجه.
3- وصف طريقة الإنتاج.
4- أي عناصر أو بيانات أخرى تحددها اللائحة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 8 explained in plain English
This article sets out the mandatory content of the usage guide, which under Article 1 is a statement attached to the geographical indication registration application containing the elements the product must have.
The guide must contain:
- The product name.
- A description of the product, with its characteristics, quality, the components of its composition, and the geographical region of its production.
- A description of the production method.
- Any other elements or data set by the Regulations.
The importance of the guide is not limited to the registration stage; it is the standard against which a product bearing the indication is measured. The geographical region specified in it, the product's characteristics and its production method are what distinguish the genuine product from others.
It is preceded by Article 7, which regulates the authentication certificate for foreign indications and international applications, and followed by Article 9, which requires the Authority to examine the application to verify that it meets the conditions and to issue its decision accepting or rejecting it, with reasons.
It is therefore advisable to prepare the guide accurately and clearly, because what is written in it determines the scope of products that may bear the indication.
Practical example
An association of producers in a mountainous region prepared a usage guide for its product: it stated its name, described its color, flavor and components, specified the villages where it is produced, and explained how it is gathered and prepared. These are the elements the article requires, in addition to anything the Regulations may add.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 8 of the Saudi Geographical Indications Law
What must the usage guide contain?
The product name, its description with its characteristics, quality, components and production region, a description of the production method, and any other elements set by the Regulations.
Must the geographical region be specified in the usage guide?
Yes. The geographical region of the product's production must be stated as part of its description.
More articles on Applying to Register a Geographical Indication
- Article 4
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property prepares a register of geographical indications in which the indications, their elements, registration applications, dispositions on them and necessary data are entered.
تُعِد الهيئة سجلًا للمؤشرات الجغرافية تسجل فيه المؤشرات الجغرافية وعناصرها وطلبات تسجيلها، والتصرفات التي ترد عليها، والبيانات اللازمة، بموجب النظام واللائحة.
- Article 6
The registration application is submitted to the Authority on the prescribed form, including proof of the product's tie to its region, documents for a foreign indication, the usage guide, and anything the Regulations specify.
يقدم طلب تسجيل المؤشر الجغرافي إلى الهيئة بالنموذج المعد لذلك، متضمنًا ما يأتي: 1- ما يُبيّن أن المـنتَج يرتبط بمنطقة جغرافية معينة، وأن نوعيته أو شهرته أو سمات
- Article 7
The Authority may request an authentication certificate for a foreign indication within a period it sets and may reject the application if it is not provided; international applications follow their agreements' procedures.
1- يجوز للهيئة أن تطلب من مقدم طلب تسجيل مؤشر جغرافي أجنبي تقديمَ شهادة مصادقة من الجهات المختصة في بلاده على صحة ما تضمنه طلب التسجيل، وذلك خلال مدة تحددها اله
- Article 9
The Authority examines the registration application and issues a decision accepting or rejecting it, notifies the applicant of a rejection with reasons, and the Regulations set the procedures and periods.
تفحص الهيئة طلب تسجيل المؤشر الجغرافي؛ للتحقق من استيفائه الشروط المحددة بموجب النظام واللائحة، وتصدر قرارها بقبول الطلب أو رفضه، وفي حال الرفض فعلى الهيئة إبلا
- Article 25
The Regulations determine the fee for the services the Authority provides under the Law and the Regulations.
تحدد اللائحة المقابل المالي عن الخدمات التي تقدمها الهيئة بموجب أحكام النظام واللائحة.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.