Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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Commission Consultation, 29 April 2019
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Evaluation of Geographical Indications and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed protected in the European Union A copy of this consultation document is available on this site. For more details, see the Commission page at: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/initiatives/ares-2018-6538977_en. Consultation closes: 27 May 2019. |
The following is the initial 'Context' section of the document:
Under its quality policy in the area of agricultural production, the European Union (EU) protects the names of geographical indications (GIs) and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed (TSGs) for agricultural products, foodstuffs, spirit drinks, wines and aromatised wines. By protecting the registered names (GIs and TSGs), the EU (1) promotes the specific characteristics of the products, linked to their geographical origin and traditional know-how; and (2) helps producers in informing consumers about the quality products.
The corresponding quality scheme rules are set out in four Regulations of the Council and the European Parliament. In total, the EU registered over 3200 GIs and 61 TSGs. All protected names are included in the EU databases and registers. The registration also covers around 30 GIs from third countries.
EU rules distinguish between the following types of geographical indications, depending on the degree and type ofassociation with a defined geographical area:
(1) names registered as a protected designation of origin (PDO) for agricultural products, foodstuffs, and wines (the raw ingredients need to come from the region of origin where all steps of production need to take place);
(2) names registered as a protected geographical indication (PGI) for agricultural products, foodstuffs, and wines (for most products, at least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation takes place in the region);
(3) names registered as a geographical indication (GI) for spirit drinks and aromatised wines (at least one of the stages of distillation or preparation takes place in the region).
GIs are recognised as intellectual property rights under the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement, to which accession of the EU as a Contracting Party is currently ongoing, also provides for protection of appellations of origin and geographical indications.
The EU also protects the names of TSGs to safeguard traditional methods of production and recipes of agricultural products and foodstuffs.
