Two agricultural products in Cameroon are now under international protection by the Intellectual Property Rights Organisation (OAPI). The Honey of Oku and Pepper of Penja are local labels being used in the pilot phase to identify other products of geographic indication in order to place them under OAIP protection in the 13 member States of the organisation.

The information was disclosed at the opening of a two-day regional seminar on geographic indications presided at by Cameroon's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Essimi Menye, last Thursday in Douala. The objective was to promote the products based on their origin, taste, and commercial values.

Beside Cameroon, two other geographic indication products have been identified in Cote d'Ivoire and Guinea Conakry. The four pilot products are being used as examples for other member States of OAPI to encourage the identification of more products for protection against counterfeiting, whether regionally or sub-regionally. According to OAPI's Assistant General Manager, Ayite Juliette, placing a product under such protection reduces the likelihood of piracy, fraud and counterfeiting but significantly boosts farmers' incomes. Speaking on the importance of geographic indication, Ramon Ndong Esono, of Equatorial Guinea, said labelling a product as with reference to its origin helps to enhance development and promotes rural areas where industrial activities are not accessible.

Minister Essimi Menye urged national representatives of OAPI to sensitise their governments on the importance of identifying and protecting products of geographic indications. He called on countries with these products to consume more of their products to encourage farmers and boost productivity.