Component 3 for intellectual property rights, implemented by the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), celebrates a historic event: Ñeembucú Honey has become the first Geographical Indication (GI) registered in Paraguay. This recognition was possible thanks to the joint effort of local producers, national authorities and the technical support provided by AL-INVEST Verde DPI within its AL-INVmentor mentoring programme.

On 29 July 2025, Paraguay officially granted GI protection to Miel de Ñeembucú, highlighting its outstanding quality and unique characteristics linked to its place of origin. These attributes come from the diverse indigenous flora and traditional beekeeping practices of the department of Ñeembucú in the south of the country. The GI seal guarantees the authenticity of the product and reaffirms its close relationship with the natural environment and ancestral knowledge of the region.

This achievement marks an important breakthrough for the Paraguayan agri-food sector and an emblematic result of the AL-INVmentor initiative in Latin America. Through this initiative, beekeepers in Ñeembucú received personalised technical assistance to define product specifications, manage the registration process, establish governance and control systems, and design a collective strategy for sustainable growth based on intellectual property rights.

The registration was the result of months of joint work between honey producers, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC), the National Directorate of Intellectual Property (DINAPI) and various regional development institutions. The mentoring programme strengthened the beekeepers' knowledge of the value of GIs as a tool to differentiate their product, increase its market value and promote sustainable practices both environmentally and socially.

Ñeembucú honey is distinguished by its light amber colour, its floral aroma with citrus notes and its delicate flavour. These qualities are the result of the native grasslands and wetlands of the area. Its low environmental impact production supports biodiversity conservation and is an example of sustainable rural development.

This first GI registration in Paraguay demonstrates the positive impact of the collaboration and opens a new stage for products with a quality designation in the country. Beyond legal protection and improved commercial positioning, the GI contributes to the cultural preservation and economic strengthening of Ñeembucú. A "honey route" has even been created as a tourist proposal to boost local development.

The EUIPO, the EU's designated authority for international cooperation on GIs and intellectual property, puts its extensive experience at the service of the global promotion of origin-linked products. Find out more about agricultural GIs managed by the European Commission and artisanal and industrial GIs managed by EUIPO: https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en/gi-hub.