Food Law News - EU - 2011


Council Press Release, 12 July 2011

GEOGRAPHIC LABELLING – Georgia: Protection of geographical indications – Council action

The following is an extract from the minutes of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting on 12 July 2011. For a copy of the proposed Decision, see: COM(2011) 223 and Annex

The Council adopted a decision authorising the signing of an agreement with Georgia on the protection of geographical indications (GIs) of agricultural products and foodstuffs (9736/11, 9738/11) and requesting the consent of the European Parliament.

The agreement is the result of negotiations conducted from July 2007 to July 2010. It provides for the mutual protection of geographical indications (i.e. protected denominations of origin (PDOs) and protected geographical indications (PGIs)) in order to improve the conditions of bilateral trade, as well as to promote quality in the food chain and retain the value of sustainable rural development.

On the one hand, it will facilitate the expansion of the protection and use of the EU geographical indications system because Georgia will protect the full EU list of GIs; on the other hand, it will facilitate intervention at source to combat potential misuse of EU GIs. In return, Georgia will have the opportunity to develop and protect its current GIs in the EU.


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