The Law of the Republic of Belarus on Geographical Indications regulates relations arising in connection with legal protection and use of geographical indications.

The notion “geographical indication” takes in the notions “appellation of origin” and “indication of source”.

Legal protection of an appellation of origin in the Republic of Belarus is provided on the ground of its registration in the National Center of Intellectual Property. On the ground of registration there is issued a certificate of right to use an appellation of origin. The certificate is valid for ten years from the date of application filing with the patent organ.

Legal protection of an indication of source is carried out on the ground of this indication use. An indication of source is not liable to state registration.

The application materials for registration and grant of the right to use an appellation of origin should be prepared in accordance with the following normative and legal documents:

• Law of the Republic of Belarus on Geographical Indications;
• Regulations on Compiling and Filing of Application for the Registration and Grant of the Right to Use Appellation of Origin and Application for the Grant of the Right to Use Appellation of Origin Already Registered;
• Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus “On Patent Fees”.   

An application should contain:

• a petition for the registration and grant of the right to use an appellation of origin or a petition for the grant of the right to use an appellation of origin already registered with indication of an applicant (applicants) as well as his (their) headquarters or place of residence;
• a claimed designation;
• naming of goods, for which designation legal protection is sought;
• indication of the place of goods production (limits of the geographical area);
• a description of the specific  properties of goods.

An application should be accompanied by the following documents:

• in case of a foreign applicant – a document confirming his right to use a claimed appellation of origin in the country of the goods origin;
• a document attesting payment of the fee in the prescribed amount;
• a document attesting the power of a patent attorney.

An application for the registration and grant of the right to use an appellation of origin and an application for grant of the right to use an appellation of origin already registered is filed with the National Center of Intellectual Property.