Bill 113.

Summary.

The bill proposes creating the “Panamá Produce+” agricultural country brand seal for Panama’s agricultural and livestock products, including organic, fair trade, and designation of origin products. It defines the seal as an official mark certifying quality, authenticity, and sustainability. Its objectives include strengthening the identity and competitiveness of those products, promoting sustainable practices, increasing exports, and encouraging their appreciation. Administration of the seal would be governed by the proposed law and its implementing regulations.

It creates the Agricultural Country Brand Committee (Comité de Marca País Agropecuario), attached to and chaired by a representative of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario). Other members would represent the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Relaciones exteriores), the Panama Tourism Authority (Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá), the Panamanian Food Agency (Agencia Panameña de Alimentos), the Agricultural Marketing Institute (Instituto de Mercadeo Agropecuario), producer associations, civil society, and the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (Secretaria Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación). The Committee would develop the visual identity and slogan, conduct domestic and international campaigns, promote certification, innovation, and good practices, and oversee and evaluate the strategy. It would also encourage advanced technologies and sustainable practices, using traditional and digital media, fairs, and events for promotion.

Certified producers could access tax incentives implemented by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas). That ministry and the Committee would have a maximum of six (6) months from promulgation to develop and implement the incentives program. The Ministry of Commerce and Industries and the Committee would facilitate participation in trade missions, international fairs, and export programs. The bill provides for training and technical assistance on sustainability, technology, quality management, and marketing, along with educational campaigns for consumers. It establishes ongoing monitoring of compliance with standards and of the seal’s effects. The Committee would submit annual reports to the Ministry of Agricultural Development covering results, exports, certifications, and production practices. It would also pursue partnerships with international organizations, NGOs, academic institutions, and businesses to obtain technical and financial cooperation.

To produce the mark, the Committee would call a public design competition open to graphic designers, artists, and design students from Panama and abroad. The call would set criteria concerning agricultural identity, sustainability, quality, authenticity, visual recognition, and elements representing Panama. A jury of design specialists, agricultural sector representatives, Committee members, and civil society representatives would select the winning design. Its creator would receive a monetary award and an official certificate and would be named in official presentations. The design would be registered with the General Directorate of Industrial Property (Dirección General de Propiedad Industrial) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries. Only products meeting Committee standards could use the seal; implementing regulations would specify application rules. Advertising, fairs, exhibitions, trade missions, and printed and digital materials would publicize it.

Funding would come from annual appropriations in the Ministry of Agricultural Development’s budget, international cooperation, and public-private partnerships. Certification and seal-use fees would fund oversight, promotion, and improvement; the resulting revenue would be reinvested in training, research, development, and agricultural infrastructure. The Committee would oversee implementation with the Ministry of Agricultural Development, which would add a “Panamá Produce+” office to its administrative structure and attend to its digital platform. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo), through that ministry, would issue implementing regulations within no more than six months of promulgation. The bill provides for the proposed law to take effect on the day after promulgation.

The provisions involve the public institutions represented on the Committee and those responsible for incentives, trade, and industrial registration. They could concern agricultural producers, sector associations, designers, consumers, businesses involved in marketing and exports, and academic institutions in Panama.