Australian Made, Australian Grown makes branding breakthrough for exports to South Korea

THE Australian Made, Australian Grown (AMAG) logo has been formally trade marked in South Korea in what is widely seen as a major breakthrough for Australian exporters.

For the first time, Australian exporters can use the symbol on their locally made or grown exports into South Korea to establish their products as genuinely Australian and legally protect that status under South Korean law.

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

The logo and campaign was launched by former Prime Minister Bob Hawke in 1986 and for the first 10 years of its life was managed by the Advance Australia Foundation. Today it is administered by Australian Made Campaign Limited (AMCL), a not-for-profit company, under contract from the Federal Government.

Australian Made and its variations are a certification trade mark, registered with the Federal Government, and with a strict code of practice governing how it can be used commercially. Products must be registered with AMCL and must meet the criteria in the code of practice to use the logo.

Australian Made chief executive, Ian Harrison, said a registration process had started 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 which exporters can rely upon 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 are across 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

www.australianmade.com.au