SANTIAGO — The Dominican Republic has taken a landmark step to protect one of its most iconic export sectors, officially launching the Regulatory Council for the Geographical Indication (GI) of “Dominican Cigar”. The initiative is designed to shield the long-standing authenticity, consistent quality, and global prestige of the Dominican Republic’s world-famous cigar industry from counterfeit products and inconsistent manufacturing practices.
Uniting six key public and private entities across the country’s tobacco and trade ecosystem, the council includes the Dominican Tobacco Institute (Intabaco), the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, Procigar, ProDominicana, the Dominican Institute of Quality (Indocal), and the National Office of Industrial Property (Onapi). Iván Hernández Guzmán, the director of Intabaco, has been appointed to lead the newly formed governing body.
The council’s mandate covers every stage of the supply chain for cigars carrying the coveted “Dominican Cigar” GI label. From the initial planting and harvesting of tobacco leaves through manufacturing, packaging, and final storage, the body will monitor adherence to strict production standards that define the GI designation. Beyond regulatory oversight, the council will also lead proactive branding efforts for Dominican cigars, amplify global marketing initiatives, and deliver targeted training programs for all registered producers to maintain consistent quality.
Néstor Julio Matos, director of Indocal, emphasized that the new oversight structure will directly reinforce consumer trust. By systematically enforcing compliance with two key national standards — Nordom 481 and Nordom 482 — the council will ensure that every product bearing the “Dominican Cigar” label meets the rigorous quality benchmarks consumers around the world expect.
The creation of the council is rooted in existing national legal frameworks: it was established under Law 20-00, which governs industrial property in the country, and Law 34-18, which outlines the mandate of Intabaco. The cross-sector collaboration between public and private stakeholders is designed to bring together diverse expertise to support the industry’s growth. Onapi will contribute specialized legal guidance to uphold GI rules, while Indocal will provide technical support to preserve the integrity of the entire certification process.