Malaysia extends durian IP protection for 10 more years
16 October 2024
The Intellectual Property Corporation (MyIPO) has extended the Musang King durian’s local intellectual property protection certificate by 10 more years, expiring on March 12, 2034.
The renewal, according to Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, shows that the Musang King durian is a trademark that is exclusive to Malaysia. “[Malaysia] has registered the Musang King durian as a unique brand through MyIPO,” he said in a statement. “For a period of 10 years, when you have patented it, it would be difficult for another country to use it.”
On March 13, 2014, the Musang King durian was initially filed under geographical indication (GI) as an intellectual property.
The purpose of the registration is to honour the fame and outstanding quality of the king of fruits, a distinctive fruit product from Malaysia that is now adored across the world.
According to Mohammed Sabu, durian is now more than just a fruit grown for consumption by family members. “Durians nowadays are not planted just for the enjoyment of children and grandchildren,” he said. “We have sent about 40 metric tonnes of fresh durian of various types to China recently. I am sure that in the next durian season, we will produce thousands more tonnes of durian to be exported to China.”
He thus urged owners of durian plantations throughout the country to put in even more effort to cultivate and maintain the calibre of the king of fruits grown on their own properties.
According to him, a single Musang King durian sold in China costs about RM350 (US$80), yet Chinese consumers still have a strong desire for it. He added that Perak is presently the second-largest producer of Musang King durian, behind Pahang.
Two months after Mohamad and Yu Jianhua, the minister of China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC), signed the Phytosanitary Requirements Protocol for the Export of Fresh Durian Fruit from Malaysia to China in Putrajaya, Malaysia started exporting fresh durian to China on August 24, 2024.
- Excel V. Dyquiangco
