Peru's Villa Rica Coffee Makes Global Debut with Protected Designation of Origin

By Espinosa Bellido Abogados

In a landmark achievement for the country's agricultural sector, Peru has successfully exported its first shipment of Café Villa Rica, a coffee variety renowned for its exceptional quality and bearing the coveted Protected Designation of Origin (DO) status. This milestone marks a significant step forward in promoting the economic development of coffee producers in the Villa Rica district of the Oxapampa province.

The DO designation, granted by the National Institute for the Defense of Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property (Indecopi) in 2010, safeguards the unique characteristics of Café Villa Rica, attributing its superior quality to the specific geographic environment, natural factors, and traditional production methods of the Villa Rica region. The coffee beans, sourced from the Coffea arabica species, are exclusively cultivated within the district's boundaries.

The initial export, consisting of 49 sacks totaling 3,381 kilograms of green coffee beans, was destined for Argentina. The shipment was certified by the Regulatory Council of the Café Villa Rica PDO, ensuring product traceability, quality, and authenticity.

This achievement is a testament to the collective efforts of local coffee producers, government agencies, and international development partners. The Peruvian-Swiss Intellectual Property Project (PESIPRO) Phase 2, funded by the Swiss Economic Cooperation (SECO), played a pivotal role in supporting the amendment of the Café Villa Rica PDO regulations, streamlining the certification process, and facilitating the issuance of authorizations for using the designation.