The government is committed to promoting and developing geographical indication (GI) products to cover all provinces in 2020, up from 67 provinces now.
Wanpen Nicrovanachumrus, deputy director-general of the Intellectual Property Department, said the Commerce Ministry has already approved GI certificates through the department for 103 indigenous products in 67 provinces, with applications for GI products in the remaining 10 provinces pending the department's consideration.
GI is a distinctive certificate used to identify a product as originating from a particular country, region or locality that has specific qualities, reputation or other unique characteristics.
The certification of unique characteristics and quality is expected to increase market value in developed countries.
In a move to promote GI products nationwide, the cabinet on Feb 18 ordered the Interior Ministry to support and promote each province developing GI products to generate community income and add value to local products.
The government aims to raise sales from GI products to more than 30 billion baht over the next five years while linking GI locations to tourism schemes.
GI product sales topped 4 billion baht last year, up from 3.7 billion in 2017.
Thailand has GI registration in the EU for Thung Kula Rong Hai hom mali rice, Doi Chaang and Doi Tung coffee, and Sangyod Muang Phatthalung rice, while in India and Indonesia it has registered Lamphun brocade Thai silk.
Isan indigenous Thai silk yarn has GI registration in Vietnam.
Thailand has already filed GI applications in China for Thung Kula Rong Hai hom mali rice, Phetchabun sweet tamarind and Tubtim Siam Pak Phanang pomelo.
In Japan, Thailand has filed for GI registration of Doi Tung and Doi Chaang coffee and Uttaradit's huay mon pineapple.
In Vietnam the Thai government has filed and is awaiting registration confirmation for Phetchabun sweet tamarind and Lamphun golden dried longan. GI confirmation is also expected for Doi Tung coffee in Cambodia.
There are 16 foreign products with GI registration in Thailand, mostly from Italy, Vietnam and France.
Nine applications are pending for foreign products such as grapes from California, Pisco brandy from Chile, grana padano and asiago cheeses from Italy, and Kobe beef from Japan.
"Once approved, possibly next year, we are going to have GI products covering all provinces nationwide," said Ms Wanpen.
She said applications for GI registration in the remaining 10 provinces include Tak Khao Luempua black glutinous rice, Rayong gold pineapples and Sam Khok earthen jars from Pathum Thani.
The department is promoting GI products by holding a biannual GI Market Fair 2019 during April 1-7 at Central Bangna and July 24-30 at CentralPlaza Grand Rama IX.
