The EP has given the final green light to the reform of EU rules governing the protection of geographical indications for wine, spirits and agricultural products.
The new regulation , adopted on Wednesday with 520 votes in favour, 19 against and 64 abstentions, contains measures to protect GIs also online, give greater powers to producers and simplify the GI registration process.
Online protection
During negotiations with Member States, MEPs insisted that national authorities have the obligation to take administrative and judicial measures to prevent or stop the illegal use of GIs, not only offline, but also online.
Domain names that illegally use GI will be closed or disabled via geoblocking.
The EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) will set up an alert system for this purpose.
Protection of GIs as ingredients
The new rules also establish that a GI designating a product used as an ingredient may be used in the naming, labeling or advertising of a related processed product, only if the ingredient with the GI symbol is used in quantities sufficient to confer the processed product an essential characteristic , and if no other ingredient comparable to the one with the GI mark is used in the same product.
The percentage of the GI ingredient must however be indicated on a label. Any groups producing such ingredients will need to be informed by the producers of the processed product, and will be able to make recommendations on the correct use of the GI.
More rights for IG producers
Thanks to Parliament, GI producers will be able to prevent or counteract any measures or commercial practices detrimental to the image and value of their products, including the devaluation of marketing practices and the lowering of prices.
To increase transparency for consumers, MEPs also ensured that producer names appear in the same field of vision as the geographical indication on the packaging of all GIs.
Simplified registration
The Commission will remain solely responsible for managing the GI system , according to the approved regulation. The GI registration process will be simpler and a deadline of up to six months will be set for the verification of applications for new GIs.
Rapporteur Paolo De Castro (S&D, IT) said: “Thanks to Parliament, we now have a fundamental regulation for our quality agri-food supply chains, strengthening the role of producer associations and the protection of geographical indications, increasing simplification, sustainability and transparency towards consumers. A better system, which generates added value, without investing public funds. After the crisis resulting from the pandemics and the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the surge in production prices, the new regulation on GIs is finally good news for European farmers.”
Next steps
Once the Council formally adopts the regulation, it will be published in the Official Journal of the EU and will enter into force 20 days later. (Source: https://www.europarl.europa.eu /)