Geographical Sign indicates the origin of a product which possesses a specific quality, reputation or other characteristics attributable to that place, area, region or country of origin.

Designation of origin is the name of a place, an area or a region of a product originating from that particular place, area, region or in exceptional cases a country, of which the geographical boundaries have been defined, and that the quality or characteristics of the product are essentially or exclusively due to the inherent natural and human factors of this place, area or region, and that the production, processing and preparation activities of all of which take place within the defined boundaries of this place, area or region.

Geographical indication is the name of a place, an area or a region of a product originating from that particular place, area or region of which the geographical boundaries have been defined, and that the product possesses a specific quality, reputation or other characteristics attributable to this place, area or region, and that at least one of the activities of production, processing or preparation of which take place within the defined boundaries of this place, area or region.

The process launches by filing an application. In this repect, only natural or legal persons who are producers of the product, consumers associations, public institutions related with the product or the geographical region may apply for the registration of a geographical sign.

The application shall be examined by the Institute as to the compliance with the concerned Act. The applications which comply with the provisions of this Act shall be published in the Official Gazette and in two of the highest circulating national newspapers and in one local newspaper. If no objection is filed within six months of the publication at the Official Gazette, the geographical sign or name shall become effective as of the publication date and shall be recorded in the geographical sign register.