When it comes to geographical indications (GIs), which reserve exclusive use of a product name for goods from certain regions, scope of protection is the issue, said Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, in her inaugural column for Dairy Foods magazine.

“The overreach of protection to include generic names is a big deal,” she said, adding that the Consortium for Common Food Names, of which IDFA is a member, has established guidelines that will protect GIs and common names and drive healthy competition.