Côte d’Ivoire advances protection and recognition of its shea butter

Côte d’Ivoire is taking further steps to enhance the recognition and commercial value of its shea butter. On 27 August 2026, the National Committee for Geographical Indications and Collective Marks (CMC) adopted the technical documentation for the creation of SHEATROU, a label for “Shea Butter from Côte d’Ivoire”.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening the identification, authenticity and quality of Ivorian shea butter, while improving its competitiveness and supporting the value generated for producers and other stakeholders in the sector. It is being supported financially by the PCCET and technically by WIPO and OAPI.

From an intellectual property perspective, the initiative illustrates the increasing use of origin-based protection and quality-identification mechanisms to strengthen the market position of African products. For Côte d’Ivoire, SHEATROU forms part of a broader effort to leverage intellectual property to protect local identity and know-how while creating greater commercial value for products with a strong territorial connection.