Paraguay aims to protect its sweet herb as an appellation of origin

By BKM | Berkemeyer

Since 2005 the Paraguayan Chamber of Stevia (Capaste) has been lobbying for the protection of their world known product as an appellation of origin. Their goal is finally becoming a reality as the Paraguayan IP Office (Dinapi) has informed them that the ka'a he'ê will be shortly registered as an appellation of origin.

"The denomination of origin that Dinapi will grant is like giving a birth certificate to a product. It shows that the ka'a he'ê is Paraguayan and it is the first step for the international community to accept it”, Juan Barboza, president of Capaste, said to ABC Color.

Commonly known as candyleaf, sweetleaf or sugarleaf in different parts of the world, the stevia rebaudiana is called ka'a he'ê (sweet herb) by the Guaraní people of Paraguay. It is a tender perennial native to parts of Paraguay and Brazil that has been used for more than 1500 years by the Guaraní people.

San Pedro, Caaguazú, Itapúa and Alto Paraná are the Paraguayan departments which produce the greatest yield of the product, positioning Paraguay as the world's second-largest producer of stevia after China, with the European Union as its biggest market. With that in mind local ka'a he'ê producers have been long fighting for a better International protection of the product.

An appellation of origin is a special kind of geographical indication generally consisting of a geographical name or a traditional designation used on products which have a specific quality or characteristics that are essentially due to the geographical environment in which they are produced. Consumers are familiar with these products and often request them – even unknowingly – using their geographical name.