On the afternoon of November 28, 2025, Hue University of Law, Hue University, coordinated with the Ha Tinh Provincial Department of Science and Technology and the Hai Ninh Ward People's Committee to organize a provincial-level scientific conference on the topic: "Assessing the Protectability of the Ky Ninh Fish Sauce Certification Mark in the Australian and New Zealand Markets and Determining the Owner of the Ky Ninh Fish Sauce Certification Mark in these Markets."

The conference was organized within the framework of the science and technology project "Establishment, Management, and Development of the Ky Ninh Fish Sauce Certification Mark" approved by the Ha Tinh Provincial People's Committee.

Attendees from Ha Tinh Province included: Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tuan, Director of the Department of Justice; Mr. Bui Phong An, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology; Mr. Le Tung Duong, Representative of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; Representative of the Department of Industry and Trade; Representatives of press, radio, and television agencies of Ha Tinh Province.

Attendees from Hue University of Law, Hue University, included: Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang, Deputy Head of the Faculty of Civil Law, Project Leader; Mr. Ho Minh Thanh (PhD. Candidate), Project Secretary; Mr. Nguyen Luong Sy (PhD. Candidate), Key Project Member, Rapporteur on the specialized topic of Certification Mark protection in Australia and New Zealand; Mr. Tran Cao Thanh (PhD. Candidate), Rapporteur on the specialized topic of experience in exploiting and promoting certification marks; Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Huy (PhD. Candidate), Deputy Director of the Center for Legal Consulting and Short-term Training, Project Member.

Local attendees included: Mr. Nguyen Huy Trong, Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the Hai Ninh Ward People's Council; Mr. Tran Ba Toan, Deputy Secretary, Chairman of the Ward People's Committee; Ms. Ho Minh Hang, Vice Chairwoman of the Ward People's Committee; Representatives of mass organizations and more than 50 businesses, cooperatives, and fish sauce production households in the area.

The Conference included main contents according to the announced Program, including: Project Overview Report, presented by Hue University of Law, Hue University; Presentation on the possibility of protecting the Ky Ninh Fish Sauce Certification Mark in Australia and New Zealand and the plan to determine the owner of the certification mark when registering in these two countries; Presentation on the practical management and exploitation of the Ky Ninh Fish Sauce Mark from local production establishments; Presentation on the experience in exploiting and promoting marks to develop local specialty products; Presentation on the potential for economic development from the perspective of businesses, cooperatives, and fish sauce production households.

In his welcoming speech, Mr. Nguyen Huy Trong, Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the Hai Ninh Ward People's Council, emphasized the efforts to maintain and develop the traditional local fish sauce production, while frankly pointing out the difficulties regarding standards, quality control, and market orientation. He requested the project leading units to continue training, technical guidance, supporting the raising of awareness regarding compliance with the certification mark usage regulations, and promoting product promotion activities to expand the market.

The presentations at the Conference provided many multi-dimensional views, helping to clarify the possibility of certification mark protection in Australia and New Zealand under national intellectual property law and the registration conditions; The method of establishing the owner of the certification mark suitable for the community management model; Issues arising in the use of the mark locally, such as compliance with regulations, quality assurance, and traceability; Lessons learned from the model of managing collective and certification marks in Vietnam and internationally.

The Conference affirmed the importance of bringing Ky Ninh Fish Sauce – a characteristic traditional product of Ha Tinh – to the international market as a legally protected product with a sustainable development strategy and high competitiveness.

The project is expected to establish a legal – commercial – promotional foundation for the product to penetrate the Australian, New Zealand markets, and further to other countries; simultaneously raising the income for local people, preserving the traditional craft, and promoting local socio-economic development.