KUCHING: Malaysian Intellectual Property Organisation (MyIPO) yesterday handed over two intellectual properties for Sarawak to Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
The certificates were for the registrations of Litsara as a trade mark under Class 5 and for Sarawak and Litsea as geographical indication, both submitted by Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) in January last year.
Both registrations were approved by MyIPO for a period of 10 years until Jan 28, 2021, and are now registered with the Sarawak government, according to a media statement here yesterday.
Sarawak Litsea is the plant species, Litsea cubeba, found growing wild in the highlands of Sarawak.
In Sarawak, the plant is traditionally used for food flavouring and as medication for stomach ailments by the Bidayuh and Orang Ulu communities.
Essential oil extracted from the leaves and fruits of Sarawak Litsea is aromatic and shows strong anti-microbial properties.
The SBC’s analysis of Sarawak Litsea essential oil has identified a different chemical composition compared to Litsea oil from other geographical regions such as China, the main producer of Litsea oil.
Litsea oil from China has high citral content and consumers with perfume allergy have been warned to avoid using products containing it. The uniqueness of oil composition of Sarawak Litsea compared to those from other countries has put Sarawak Litsea as an alternative source of litsea oil in the world market.
The chemical composition of Sarawak Litsea was confirmed by the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) and Sirim Environmental Technology Research Centre.
Besides the registration of Sarawak Litsea for the species of Litsea cubeba from Sarawak, pharmaceutical and personal care products which utilise Sarawak Litsea essential oil will also carry the trade mark, Litsara.
Sarawak Litsea is among the 20 geographical indications currently registered in Malaysia.
Other geographical indications registered from Sarawak are Sarawak Dabai, Bario Rice, Sarawak Pepper, Sarawak Beras Biris, Sarawak Beras Bajong, Sarawak Sour Eggplant and Kuih Lapis Sarawak (Sarawak Layered Cake).