The forum on agricultural cooperation across the Taiwan Straits ended in Boao, Hainan province, on the afternoon of the 17th this month. Entrusted by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Transportation, Chen Yunlin, chairman of Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, announced at the closing ceremony a series of new policies and measures on the expansion and deepening of agricultural cooperation across the Taiwan Straits, and once again stressed the protection of Taiwan's intellectual property on agro-products, and the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwanese farmers.

 

These new policies and measures involve four aspects: a) further improve the trial areas for agricultural cooperation across the Straits and the construction of pioneering gardens by Taiwanese farmers; b) encourage and support farmers on both straits to conduct agricultural cooperation and technology generalization, expand the areas; c) optimize services, facilitate the across-strait trade of agro-products and sales of products turned out by Taiwanese-invested agricultural enterprises in the mainland; and d) protect the intellectual property of Taiwanese agro-products, their legitimate rights and interests. 

 

On the matter of protection of intellectual property on Taiwanese agro-products and the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwanese farmers, two new measures will be adopted.

 

Chen Yunlin announced first of all, in order to regulate the operational behavior of the market for Taiwanese fruits and protect their good brands and images, the industrial and commercial administrative organs will strengthen supervision and management of the market, strictly differentiate "fruits made in Taiwan" and "fruits of Taiwan brand". Wherever fruits of Taiwan brand not produced on the Taiwan Island are to be sold, their packing material and price tag should indicate their place of origin. Any behaviors of selling fruits not produced in Taiwan by fraud as Taiwan-made ones will be stopped and penalized in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law. Meanwhile, supervision over the related publicity will be intensified and punishment be imposed on such activities as run against the Advertising Law.

 

Chen Yunlin said, Taiwanese agro-product makers and distributors are welcome to obtain the protection of the Trademark Law by registration of general trademark, certified trademark or collective trademark. Punishment will be given to those who encroach on the franchise of any registered trademark of Taiwan agro-products according to the related provisions of the Trademark Law.

2006-10-26

2006-10-26