AUSTRALIAN MADE TO BE RECOGNISED IN SOUTH KOREA

Australian Made to be recognised in South Korea

In a major breakthrough for Australian exporters, the Australian Made, Australian Grown (AMAG) logo has now been formally trade marked in South Korea.

This means that for the first time ever, Australian exporters have a symbol that can be used on their locally made or grown exports into South Korea that both establishes their products as genuinely Australian and is legally protected under South Korean law.

The AMAG logo is Australia's registered country-of-origin trade mark for genuine Aussie products and produce.

Australian Made chief executive Ian Harrison said the registration process had commenced in 2011 in response to the growing importance of South Korea as a market for Australian products.

"The Australian Made, Australian Grown logo's formal registration in South Korea now provides an essential legal framework upon which exporters can rely in the event that the logo – or product carrying it – is copied or used without proper authority," Mr Harrison said.

"It will also provide a legal framework for the Australian Made-branded shops established in South Korea by campaign partner SINI Australia."

The registration work was carried out by Australian Made campaign partner EKM Patent and Trade Marks.

The registration covers 11 classes of goods and services (classes 3, 5, 20, 25, 29-33, 35 and 41). These cover a wide range of products, including cleaning products, pharmaceuticals, furniture, food and beverages, as well as use in activities such as education and sport.

The formal registration of the AMAG logo in Korea follows its registration in the USA and China. Registration is also pending in Singapore.

Further information regarding classes of goods can be found at http://xeno.ipaustralia.gov.au/tmgns/facelets/tmgoods.xhtml.

The Australian Made, Australian Grown logo is Australia's registered country-of-origin certification trade mark. Introduced by the Federal Government in 1986, it is now administered by the not-for-profit organisation Australian Made Campaign Limited (AMCL) under formal agreement with the government. The logo can only be used on products that are registered with AMCL.

To use the logo goods must meet the criteria set out in the Australian Consumer Law and the Australian Made, Australian Grown Logo Code of Practice. For more information visit www.australianmade.com.au or call 1800 350 520.