ALBANIA

Policy and Legislation

Albania has  not yet a policy for Geographical Indications. The department of Production Policy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection plans to undertake studies in the area of production of geographical indications and traditional food products in Albania.

Committee of Science and Technology Order, No. 5, of December 5, 1994, Regulations to Complete, File, Review Applications for Registration of Appellation of Origin, Assignment of Rights to Use Registered Appellations of Origin of Goods

These regulations list the requirements used in respect of applications for registration of appellations of origin in terms of their completion, presentation and review, as well as the examination and registration procedure for appellations of origin and assignment of rights to use the registered appellations of origin of goods
(Source: http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/details.jsp?id=41)

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

Albinspekt is the first Albanian certification body that offers bio certification services for the European markets, supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC). The Albanian certification body in cooperation with a Swiss certification body BioInspecta (http://www.bio-inspecta.ch) makes certification for bioproducts. Another certification body for bioproducts is Italian certification body ICEA (http://www.icea.info; Pallati i Kultures, Sheshi Skenderbej,Tiranë) that works in close cooperation with Albinspekt.

ALBINSPEKT Rruga "Ded Gjon Luli", Pall. 5, Shk. 1, Ap.8, Tiranë, Shqipëri
Albinspekt is listed in the EU list of the inspection/certification bodies and is actually is the only Albanian inspection/certification body accredited for this service.
PHONE/FAX: +355 4 2238 554
Mobile:                +355 68 20 62 262        
http://www.albinspekt.com

Other useful links:
http://www.fibl.org/en/switzerland/development/services-projects/certification.html

http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/details.jsp?id=41

Products

Assessment of potential GI products is on-going by carrying out the study on the “Advantages, constraints, and key success factors of establishing quality signs linked to the origin and traditions in Albania: the case of typical origin-based products”. The aim of study is to revue the information currently available in relation to quality traditional products in Albania and related policies to support their development and preservation, to identify origin-based products showing a potential for being promoted as GI products (specific characteristics linked to the origin, market potential, producers objectives), and to develop a case study on one product.

Identified potential products:
1)    Apples from Korça
2)    Cheese from Gjirokstra
3)    Chestnut honey from Tropojë
4)    Chestnuts from Tropojë
5)    Garlic from Drishti and Malesia e Madh
6)    Gliko from Permeti
7)    Medicinal and wild herbs from the Albanian Alps.
8)    Olive oil from Himara
9)    Olive oil from Tirana region
10)    Olives from Berati
11)    Onions from Korça
12)    Oranges from Saranda
13)    Raki of arbouse from Skrapari
14)    Sweet peppers from Shkodra
15)    White beans from Dibra
 16)    White cheese from Permeti
17)    White potatoes from Kukesi
 

Sources:

- Kokthi E. April 2008. Diagnostic des produits locaux dans la zone de Permet (Albanie).  Memoire de fin d’etudes. L’Institut Agronomique Mediterraneen de Montpellier.

- Exploratory interviews with experts and stakeholders.

The case study will be focused on Chestnuts from Tropojë (North-Eastern district).

Events

Event for the promotion of the certification services for agricultural food products
12 March 2010, “Hotel Sheraton”, Tirana, conference room “Illyria 2”, 10:00 a.m.
Organizer: Albinspekt

Contact

ARMENIA

Policy and Legislation

Armenia has not yet a policy for Geographical Indications. The drafts of the corresponding legal acts are under discussion.

The Republic of Armenia Law on “Alcoholic beverages from grape” has been approved, in which the mechanisms of GI process for wine and grape vodka, as well as requirements for grape cultivation and processing are stipulated. The mentioned provisions of this Law will enter into force on 1 January, 2015 and till this period the secondary legislative acts will be approved for application of these provisions.

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia

Products

GIs food products can be produced almost in all Provinces of Armenia, however, the most favourable conditions are in Vayots Dzor and Syunik Provinces, as well as in Tavush and Lori Provinces.

Contact

Mr. Andranik Petrosyan
Head of Foreign Relations and Marketing Department
Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia

E-mail: frdminagro@gmail.com

AUSTRIA

Policy and Legislation

»    EU Policy and Legislation

•    Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 of 20 March 2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/agriculture/food/l66044_en.htm

•    Council regulation (EC) No 509/2006 of 20 March 2006 on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:093:0001:0011:EN:PDF

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

National authority regarding application of PGIs: Austrian Patent Office

Labelling and consumer education

• Logo for PGI products:

• Logo Regions of Delight:

 

 
GENUSS REGION ÖSTERREICH - “Regions of Delight”

 (Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management)
http://www.genuss-region.at/index-genuss-region/


The objective of the GENUSS REGION ÖSTERREICH, the Austrian Region of Delight, is to fulfil the desire of consumers for more information about Austrian origin and quality of foods while at the same helping the regions to achieve higher appreciation and better presentation of the work of their farm women, farmers and local restaurant keepers.              

At the same time people are to become better aware of the fact that the cultural landscape and the high-quality food grown there form a whole that lends each region its individual character. The activity aims at further developing and promoting the cooperation between agriculture, commerce, restaurants, tourism, and trade.
 
One of the key criteria for a “Genuss Region” is that the raw material comes from the region and is also processed there. Other issues of importance include product marketing on the spot and the regular use of the product in local restaurants as well as regular information and marketing events in the regions.

Special consideration is given to protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications. In 2005, 25 regions were designated “Regions of Delight”; by the end of 2006 there are to be 60 Regions of Delight.

• Logo for traditional food and dishes:

 

          
http://www.traditionelle-lebensmittel.at/
http://www.traditionelle-lebensmittel.at/article/articleview/77197/1/26100/

• Register on Traditional Knowledge in agricultural products and food
(Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management)

http://www.traditionelle-lebensmittel.at/

(http://www.traditionelle-lebensmittel.at/article/archive/26082/ ) NEW

The register on traditional foods contains products which have been produced or processed with "Traditional Knowledge" since at least three generations (75 years).
 
In the numerous different regions of Austria, ranging from the Alpine area to the Pannonian Planes, people have for centuries passed down the knowledge about cultivating and processing regional or local agricultural products from generation to generation. They have thereby not only given the landscape a typical shape, but have also transmitted the eating habits and the pleasure of eating and preserved the traditions.
Austria is therefore rich in regional food specialities which have acquired renown and are appreciated also beyond local and national borders.
 
In 2005 the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management began to collect data of the Austrian regions and their respective culinary specialities, to record them systematically in the culinary map GENUSS REGION ÖSTERREICH - “Regions of Delight” (www.genuss-region.at) - and to designate them publicly. In a further step, the Traditional Knowledge about these products, other protected designations of origin and dishes is now recorded in a systematic form.
 
What is Traditional Knowledge?
Traditional Knowledge, as defined by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), can briefly be characterised as knowledge which is
- generated, preserved and transmitted between generations in a traditional context;
- distinctively associated with the community which preserves and transmits it; and
- percepted as Traditional Knowledge in the community.
 
“Traditional Knowledge” is covered by the law of intellectual property. Therefore by disclosing the knowledge evidence is created which provides defensive protection. Irrespective thereof positive protection is provided for the names – but not the Traditional Knowledge of production – of many registered products by the entry into the EU Register as “Protected Designation of Origin” (PDO) or “Protected Geographical Indication” (PGI), or by trademark protection.
 
The objective of the present database is to disclose the Traditional Knowledge and to notify the existence of the Register to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
Only products which have been traditionally cultivated or processed in the regions for at least 3 generations (75 years) are entered into the Register on Traditional Food from Austria. The database is to be extended continuously, as it represents only the beginning of a comprehensive survey. Among other information the register contains for each product a description, a brief presentation of the Traditional Knowledge, information about the first historical disclosure, the link to the region, proprietors of the knowledge, contact persons, keywords, as well as a short list of the applied references and literature for further information.

Logo

Products

(Products’ Specifications accessible through EU data base DOOR http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html

Publications

The Austrian Register on Traditional Knowledge in agricultural products and foods of Austria
http://www.traditionelle-lebensmittel.at
http://www.wipo.int/tk/en/laws/tk.html#other

Contact

Dr Hedwig Wögerbauer
Director
Federal Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry, Environment and Water Management

AZERBAIJAN

Policy and Legislation

http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/ipworldwide/pdf/az.pdf

BELARUS

Policy and Legislation

http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/ipworldwide/pdf/by.pdf

BELGIUM

Policy and Legislation

Note: In Belgium, agriculture is a regional responsibility. The information provided on this webpage is only applicable to Flanders.

National legislation

In Flanders national procedure is defined according to the EC (nr) 509/2006 and 510/2006: registration of product as PDO, PGI or TSG. There is no national Flemish policy concerning the protection of GI’s in Flanders.

Decision of the Flemish Government of 19 October 2007 lays down the rules for the national procedure, as defined in EC (nr) 509/2006 and 510/2006.
MONITEUR BELGE Ð 07.11.2007 Ð BELGISCH STAATSBLAD
(Attachment 1)

Two ministerial decrees of 7 March 2008, specifying the details of the national procedure.
BELGISCH STAATSBLAD Ð 25.03.2008 Ð MONITEUR BELGE
(Attachement 2)

BELGISCH STAATSBLAD Ð 25.03.2008 Ð MONITEUR BELGE
(Attachement 3)?

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

The VLAM, Flanders agricultural marketing board, part of the Agriculture and Fisheries Policy Area registers traditional regional products, labelled as “Streekproduct.be”
For more information: http://streekproduct.be

Products

(Products’ Specifications accessible through EU data base DOOR http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html

*  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:183:0015:0016:en:PDF

**  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:092:0001:0005:EN:PDF

Events

IV European Forum on Food Quality: 7-8 October 2009, Brussels:
http://www.qualivita.it/site/pages/forum_bruxelles_qualivita_ita.aspx

Contact

Lieve De Smit
Policy advisor Agricultural Product Quality
Departement Landbouw en Visserij – Afdeling Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling
K Albert II-laan 35, bus 40
1030 Brussel
Belgium

                                                                    
 
Departement Landbouw en Visserij
Afdeling Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling
Ellipsgebouw - 6de verdieping
K. Albert II-laan 35, bus 40
B- 1030 Brussel
 
Tel: +32 2 552 78 84
GSM: +32 499 86 50 36
Fax: +32 2 552 78 71
 
lieve.desmit@lv.vlaanderen.be
www.vlaanderen.be/landbouw
 

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Policy and Legislation

Food Safety Agency has prepared a Rulebook on the Indications of Origin and Designation of Geographic Origin of Food (Protected Designation of Origin and Protected Geographical Indication). Rulebook is harmonized with EU Regulation 2006/510/EC; 2006/1898/EC.
The Rulebook prescribes the procedure for the registration of indications of origin and indication of geographical origin of food, content, form and manner of keeping the Register of indications of origin and Register of designation of geographical origin of food products and a system of compliance determination. The Rulebook applies to all food, except for natural mineral and spring water, spirits, wines, fruit wines and other products of grapes and wine, except for wine vinegar. Protection of origin indications or the recognition of these products is regulated by special regulations relating to wine, spirits and natural mineral and spring water.

The Rulebook defines that:
-    the procedure for registration is initiated by submitting a request to the BiH Food Safety Agency;
-    the procedure is carried out by the Commission appointed by BiH Council of Ministers on the proposal of the BiH Food Safety Agency, in cooperation with the competent authorities of Entities and Brcko District of BiH;
-    the request may require registration of only one indication of originality or designation of geographical origin;
-    the content of the request is published in BiH Official Gazette;
-    a reasoned objection to the request for registration published may be submitted within six months of publication of the request in the BiH Official Gazette;
-    based on the procedure for registration completed and the proposal of the Commission, the Food Safety Agency issues a decision on registration of indication of originality or designation of geographical origin of food product;
-    the registered indication of originality or designation of geographical origin is published in Official Gazette and on the website of the Food Safety Agency;
-    the procedure for registration of new users of registered indication is defined;
-    certificates of compliance of the production, processing and the itself  with the specification are issued and control is performed by authorized certification authority;
-    the certification authority is vested with such authorization on the proposal of the Food Safety Agency made on the basis of the open competition procedure carried out by the Council of Ministers;
-    a list of authorized certification authorities is published in Official Gazette and the Food Safety Agency supervises their work.

In order for the registration procedure to be as clear as possible the BiH Food Safety Agency will develop a guide for the registration of indications of originality and indications of geographical origin of food that will give the necessary information about the registration procedure in a simple and acceptable way. Designing the Guide is in progress.

Rulebook on traditional food reputation labels is harmonized with EU Directive 509/2006/EC; Regulation 1216/2007/EC. The Rulebook shall regulate the following: requirements and procedure for recognising specific qualities of food that are required for “traditional food reputation” labelling, the content of food product specification, the content of the Food Products Register for products bearing traditional food reputation labels, harmonisation compliance check and control system.

Rulebook on the Indications of Origin and Designation of Geographic Origin and Rulebook on traditional food reputation labels are is process to be published in Official gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

Agencija za sigurnost hrane BiH/Food Safety Agency of BiH

Publications

Case studies on Quality Products Linked to Geographical Origin in Balkans 
http://www.foodquality-origin.org/documents/etudecasEuropeEst.pdf

Events

FAO/TRAFFIC Expert Meeting on ‘Institutional Needs for Sustainable Non-Wood Forest Product Sector in South-East Europe”, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 10-12 February 2010

Contact

Mr Dzemil Hajric, DVM
Pomocnik direktora/Assistant director

Vijece ministara BiH / Council of ministries
Agencija za sigurnost hrane BiH/Food Safety Agency of BiH
tel:00387 36 397 208
fax:00387 36 397 206
e-mail: hajric@fsa.gov.ba
www.fsa.gov.ba

BULGARIA

Policy and Legislation

Law and Date of Enactment
Law on Marks and Geographical Indications
(Text published in State Gazette (SG) No. 81/1999, of September 14, 1999)
www.wipo.int/clea/en/text_html.jsp?lang=EN&id=451
http://www.wipo.int/clea/docs_new/pdf/en/bg/bg028en.pdf

Main Objectives Relating to GIs and AOC
Art. 1 provides that the law “governs the conditions and procedures for the registration
of marks and geographical indications, the rights arising therefrom and the protection of
those rights.” The law provides for a state “Register of Geographical Indications”
(Art.6).

Comments: According to Art. 53, there is no chance that registered geographical indications can become generic names as long as they enjoy are protected under the law.
Registration carried out under the Lisbon Agreement are recognized in Bulgaria (Art. 71).

AOC – Appellation d’origine controlee

CROATIA (Hrvatska)

Policy and Legislation

Law and Date of Enactment
Act on Geographical Indications and Designations of Origin of Products and
Services, Law No. NN173/2003 (in force from 1.1.2004)
http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/details.jsp?id=5554

Main Objectives Relating to GIs and AOC

Protection: The law regulates the manner of acquisition, the system of protection and the exercise of
the right to use a geographical indication and a designation of origin of products and services.

Comments: This law is among the few that cover GIs and AOs in both goods and services. The definitions are very much in keeping with those found in TRIPs (Arts. 2 and 3). Protection is granted through a recognized system of registration (Art. 12).

Publications

Radman, M. Mesic, Z. Kovacic, D. 2006. Geographical indications in Croatia, A case study of Virovitica pepper. Food and Territories “ALTER 2006” Baeza (Jaén), Spain, October 18th – 21st, 2006. 27 p.

CYPRUS

Policy and Legislation

»    EU Legislation
•    Community Regulation (EC) nr. 510/2006 (Link: http://eur-lex.europa.eu)

»    National legislation
•    National Law 139(I)/2006 (Link: http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/da/da.nsf)
•    Lawful Administrative Action 250/2007 (Link: http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/da/da.nsf)

•    Geographical Indications (Trade Descriptions), Law (Consolidation), 1987 (1992), No. 5 (No. 3)
    http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/details.jsp?id=924
    Text: http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/text_pdf.jsp?lang=EN&id=924

•    Marks (Cap. 268), Law (Consolidation), 1962 (1990), No. 63 (No. 206)
    http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/details.jsp?id=921
    Text: http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/text_pdf.jsp?lang=EN&id=921

Products

(Products’ Specifications accessible through EU data base DOOR http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html

Publications

Publications on GI and traditional food products can be found on the websites of the Technological University of Cyprus (Link: www.cut.ac.cy) and the Agricultural Research Institute (Link: www.ari.gov.cy)

Events

Events concerning the traditional products are organised regularly. Some of these events planned at national level are:
    a) Seminar titled “Protection of the names of traditional products of Cyprus”
        Date: 04.09.2009
        Organizer: Department of Agriculture
        Place of event: Nicosia
    b) Seminar titled “Loukoumi Geroskipou”
        Date: 27.06.2009
        Organizer: Municipality of Geroskipou
        Place of event: Geroskipou (Paphos) 

Loukoumi Geroskipou is the First Cypriot Product and the only of its Kind awarded with the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) by the European Union.  It is a great pride to our company that the Loukoumi Geroskipou has received this recognition since the application was submitted by us in December 2003 and finally granted on Jan 3, 2008

Contact

Mrs Maria Neocleous
Agricultural Officer A’
Ministry of Agriculture

Tel.: +357 228 19354
E-mail: mneocleous@da.moa.gov.cy

CZECH REPUBLIC

Policy and Legislation

»    National legislation

Act No. 452 of 29 November 2001 on the Protection of Designations of Origin and Geographical Indications and on the Amendment to the Act on the Consumer Protection
http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/details.jsp?id=966

Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture No. 243/2002 Coll., implementing Act No. 452/2001 Coll. on the Protection of Designations of Origin and Geographical Indications and on the Amendment to the Act on the Consumer Protection
http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/details.jsp?id=967
Text: http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/text_html.jsp?lang=EN&id=967


»    EU legislation

•    Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 of 20 March 2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/agriculture/food/l66044_en.htm

•    Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2006 of 20 March 2006 on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:093:0001:0011:EN:PDF

»    International legislation

•    Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights – TRIPS Agreement
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/t_agm0_e.htm

•    Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration
http://www.wipo.int/lisbon/en/legal_texts/lisbon_agreement.htm

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

Authorities responsible for food quality controls:

• State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic
Slezska 7
120 00 Praha 2
Phone:                +420 227 010 111        
E-mail: e.podatelna@svscr.cz
Website: http://www.svscr.cz
http://upv.cz/cs/prumyslova-prava/oznaceni-puvodu-zemepisna-oznaceni.html

• Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection
Kvetná 15
603 00 Brno
Phone:                +420 543 540 111        
E-mail: epodatelna@szpi.gov.cz
Website: http://www.szpi.gov.cz


Authority responsible for GI application:

• Office of Industrial Property
Antonina Cermaka 2a
160 68 Praha 6 - Bubeneè
Phone:                +420 220 383 111        
E-mail: posta@upv.cz
Website: http://www.upv.cz

• Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Tesnov 17
117 05 Prague 1
Phone:                +420 221 811 111        
Fax: +420 224 810 478
E-mail: info@mze.cz
Website: http://www.mze.cz
http://mze.cz/Index.aspx?ch=291&typ=1&val=43478&ids=0&katId=3494

Office of Industrial Property must consult some specific questions with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic

Body for Traditional Speciality Guaranteed labelling applications:

• Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic
Tesnov 17
117 05 Prague 1
Phone:                +420 221 811 111        
Fax: +420 224 810 478
E-mail: info@mze.cz
Website: http://www.mze.cz
http://mze.cz/Index.aspx?ch=75&typ=2&ids=3058&val=3058

Labelling and consumer education

The Czech Republic  has a PGI/PDO and traditional food products and agricultural products labelling system.

http://eagri.cz/public/eagri/poradenstvi-a-vyzkum/vyzkum-a-vyvoj/prumyslove-pravni-ochrana/oznacovani-vyrobku/

Chráněné zeměpisné označení (Protected Geographical Indication)

Chráněné označení původu (Protected  Designation of Origin)

Products

(Products’ Specifications accessible through EU data base DOOR http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html)

Note:
a) Some products are after the publishing but currently in the discussion of comments from other member countries:

b) One product is before the publishing:

c) Karlovarské trojhránky, Olomoucké tvarůžky, Karlovarské oplatky and Chelčicko-Lhenické ovoce are not registered

Publications

• Book “CZ MENU”. Author and editor: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, 2008,  ISBN 978-80-7084-756-5, 65 p. Languages: Czech, English, French. Available only in printed form. The book contains recipes from Czech Protected Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs.

•  In preparation a leaflet with Czech GI and PDO products, which were registered till this date. It will be issued in 2010 year.

Events

• High-level “Conference on the Future of the Quality Policy of Agricultural Products and Foodstaffs”, Prague, 12th – 13th March 2009. Website of the Conference: www.qpc.cz
• November 2009: Nine special seminars on the theme “Quality Products” were organized in 9 towns: Brno, Zlín, Prah, Ústí nad Labem, Plzeň, České Budějovice, Jihlava, Jičín, Pardubice. The seminars included lectures presented by 7 speakers on the following topics:

Contact

ESTONIA

Policy and Legislation

In Estonia there is a national scheme for GIs, which covers natural, agricultural, handicraft or industrial goods, and services except agricultural products and food products already protected under the Council Regulation (EC) No. 510/2006. The national scheme is regulated by Geographical Indication Protection Act of 05.12.1999:
https:// www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=12766120

Geographical Indications Protection Act of December 15, 1999
http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/details.jsp?id=1298
Text in English: http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/text_pdf.jsp?lang=EN&id=1298

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

At national level the authorization body is a governmental agency, the Estonian Patent Office, Toompuiestee 7, 15041 Tallinn, http://www.epa.ee
The Estonian Patent Office processes applications for registration of geographical indication, makes decisions and entries in the register. The register of Geographic Indications is established and the statutes for maintenance of the register are approved by the Government of the Republic.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs is the chief processor of the register and the Patent Office is the authorised processor of the register.

Protection of Geographical Indication:
http://www.epa.ee/client/default.asp?wa_id=939&wa_object_id=1&wa_id_key=

Control body for EU quality schemes (PDO, PGI, TSG) is a governmental agency, Veterinary and Food Board, Väike-Paala 3, 11415 Tallinn,
http://www.vet.agri.ee/?op=body&id=315

Consumer protection: http://www.consumer.ee/

Several consumer education activities about food labels have been carried out in Estonia
http://www.agri.ee/public/juurkataloog/TÖÖTLEV%20TÖÖSTUS/Voldik.pdf

Products

Contact

Mr Andres Oopkaup
Deputy Secretary General for Agriculture and Trade Policies
Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Estonia

EUROPEAN UNION

Policy and Legislation

EU agricultural product quality policy
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/policy/

Agriculture and Rural Development: Specific EU quality schemes - guaranteeing quality http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) for
Agricultural Farm Products and Foodstuffs http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/schemes/index_en.htm

- COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006, of 20 March 2006, “on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs”
(http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2006R0510:20070101:EN:PDF)

- Implementing regulation (1898/2006): COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1898/2006 of 14 December 2006 laying down detailed rules of implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs
(http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2006R1898:20080710:EN:PDF)

- Annexes to the implementing regulation – documents available in                    

- Amending regulation (417/2008) adding cotton and salt to the list of eligible products: Commission Regulation (EC) No 417/2008 of 8 May 2008 amending Annexes I and II to Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs
    http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32008R0417:EN:NOT

- Amending regulation (628/2008)


Commission Regulation (EC) No 628/2008 of 2 July 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1898/2006 laying down detailed rules of implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32008R0628:EN:NOT

- Wines and spirits
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/markets/wine/index_en.htm

Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation)

- Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) for
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/schemes/index_en.htm

Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2006 of 20 March 2006 on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32006R0509:EN:NOT
Implementing regulation: Commission Regulation (EC) No 1216/2007 of 18 October 2007 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2006 on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32007R1216:EN:NOT

- Organic farming – see the "Good for nature, good for you" campaign

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

European Commission
DG Agriculture http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/index_en.htm
DG Trade http://ec.europa.eu/trade/
DG Sanco http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm
Food Quality Assurance and Certification Schemes managed within an integrated supply chain
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/certification/index2_en.htm

Inspection bodies in EU countries
Particulars of inspection structures forwarded by Member States in accordance with Article 14(2)
of Regulation (EEC) No 2082/92 on certificates of specific character for agricultural products and
foodstuffs (2005/C 324/03)

Inspection structures notified by the Member States in accordance with Article 10(2) of
Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of
origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

Labelling and consumer education

EU Register as “Protected Designation of Origin” (PDO) or “Protected Geographical Indication” (PGI), or by trademark protection.

Publications

Geographical Indication Handbook
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/trade-topics/intellectual-property/geographical-indications/
Part I. Geographical indications and TRIPs: 10 Years Later…A roadmap for EU GI holders to get protection in other WTO Members
http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2007/june/tradoc_135088.pdf
Part II. Protection of Geographical Indications in 160 countries around the world
http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2007/june/tradoc_135089.pdf

FINLAND

Policy and Legislation

»    EU policy and legislation:
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/policy/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/leg/index_en.htm
Council Regulations No 510/2006 and 509/2006 and Commission Regulations No 1898/2006 and No 1216/2007 are applicable in Finland, as EU country

»    National legislation:
Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry No 907/2007 on the protection of the names for agricultural products and foodstuffs:
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2007/20070907

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

Labelling and consumer education

Finland complies with EU Gis and traditional food products labelling system.

Products

Products’ Specifications accessible through EU data base DOOR
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html

Events

Seminar on the protection of GIs, 23^rd of February 2010.
Organizer: University of Helsinki, Institute of Ruralia

Contact

FYR MACEDONIA

Policy and Legislation

http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/ipworldwide/pdf/mk.pdf

GEORGIA

Policy and Legislation

Law on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications of Goods, 22/06/1999
On 22nd of June 1999 the Law of Georgia on Appellations of Origin and Geographical indications of Goods came into effect. The Law regulates the issues of registration, protection and usage of the traditional goods (services) of origin and geographical indications.
http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/text_html.jsp?lang=EN&id=1764
http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/ipworldwide/pdf/ge.pdf
http://www.wipo.int/pct/guide/en/gdvol2/annexes/ge.pdf
http://www.sakpatenti.org.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=39

Appelation of origin
Under the Law of Georgia "On Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications of Goods”, the basis for the protection of appellations of origin and geographical indications in Georgia is their registration at Sakpatenti or an interstate agreement. This law in fact came into effect in 2005, along with this, its application became possible only with respect to wines, spirits and mineral waters, as the subordinate legislation adopted in 2003 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Foodstuffs and being in force by this period provided only for the study and determination of the link of characteristics of wines, wine brandies and mineral waters with the geographical place, specification of the borders of a geographical place, registration of relevant appellations of origin and control of their use.

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

National Intellectual Property Centre “Sakpatenti”

http://www.sakpatenti.org.ge/

Products

On December 10, 2007, 11 appellations of origin of Georgian wines were registered in the State Register of Sakpatenti, in particular: "Vazisubani”, Kardenakhi”, "Tibaani”, "Tvishi”, "Qvareli”, "Atenuri (Ateni)”, "Kakheti”, "Sviri”, "Kotekhi”, "Teliani” and "Napareuli”. According to the data of January 1, 2008, 18 appellations of Georgian wines were registered in the State Register.

Under the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration, the following appellations of Georgian wines were submitted for registration to the International Bureau on January 3, 2007, and were recorded in the International Register on January 10: "Vazisubani” (Reg. N 871), "Kardenakhi” (Reg.N 872), "Tibaani” (Reg.N 873), "Manavi” (Reg. N 874), "Tvishi” (Reg.N 875), "Qvareli” (Reg.N 876), "Atenuri” (Reg.N 877), "Sviri” (Reg.N 878), "Kotekhi” (Reg.N 879) and "Kakheti” (Reg.N 880). It should be noted that the abovementioned appellations of origin of Georgian wines were not refused protection in any country party to the Lisbon Agreement, except Bulgaria, the Patent Office of which refused to grant protection to the appellation of origin "Tvishi” with the motive that the trademark of the same name was already registered by the Office. On the basis of the Lisbon Agreement in 2007 protection was granted on the territory of Georgia to 5 appellations of origin, of which 1 appellations is from Moldova, 1 – from Bulgaria, 1 – from Portugal and 2 – from Korea.

Contact

Mr Nodar Kereselidze
Head of International Relations Department
Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia
E-mail: nkereselidze@moa.gov.ge; nkereselidze@gmail.com

GERMANY (Deutschland)

Policy and Legislation

Gesetz zur Durchführung der Rechtsakte der Europäischen Gemeinschaft über Bescheinigungen besonderer Merkmale von Agrarerzeugnissen und Lebensmitteln
(Lebensmittelspezialitätengesetz - LSpG) 29.10.1993
(Attachment 1)

Verordnung zur Durchführung des Lebensmittelspezialitätengesetzes (Lebensmittelspezialitätenverordnung - LSpV) 21.12.1993
(Attachment 2)

Abschnitt 2. Schutz von geographischen Angaben und Ursprungsbezeichnungen gemaβ der Verordnung (EC) Nr. 510/2006, §§130-139
(Attachment 3)

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

The Deutsche Patent- und Markenamt (Zweibrückenstraße 12,80331 München; www.dpma.de) is responsible for the application of GI products and the

Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE) (Deichmanns Aue  29, 53179 Bonn; www.ble.de) is responsible for the application for traditional food products labelling.  http://www.ble.de/nn_465852/DE/02__Kontrolle__Zulassung/Kontrolle__Zulassung__node.html?__nnn=true

Products

(Products’ Specifications accessible through EU data base DOOR
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html

Publications

Teuber, R. 2009. Producers' and Consumers' Expectations towards Geographical Indications - Empirical Evidence for Hessian Apple Wine 113th EAAE Seminar “A resilient European food industry and food chain in a challenging world”. Chania, Crete, Greece. 18 p. Available at
http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/58150/2/Teuber.pdf

Contact

Bundesminsterium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz
Referat 614
D-11055 Berlin
 
e-mail: 614@BMELV.Bund.de
phone:                0049 30 2006 4548        

GREECE

Policy and Legislation

»    EU legislation

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006, of 20 March 2006, “on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs”
(http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2006R0510:20070101:EN:PDF)

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1898/2006 of 14 December 2006 laying down detailed rules of implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs
(http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2006R1898:20080710:EN:PDF)

»    National legislation

Joint Ministerial Decision number 261611/7-3-2007 (National Government Journal no 406 B/2007) laying down complementary measures on the above mentioned regulations.
(http://www.minagric.gr/greek/data/FEK406.pdf)

Amendments of 261611/7-3-2007 Joint Ministerial Decision (
- number 290398 (National Government Journal no. 694 Β /21-04-2008)
(http://www.minagric.gr/greek/data/ΤΡΟΠΟΠΟΙΗΣΗ_ΚΥΑ%20261611.pdf)
- number 318764 (National Government Journal no 1683 Β /21-08-2008)
(http://www.minagric.gr/greek/data/20080201683.pdf)

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

• AGROCERT (Hellenic Competent Authority for Certification and Control of PDO PGI)
  Private Law Legal Entity, operating for the public benefit, under the supervision of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food (http://www.agrocert.gr/)
  
  Main competences
  ° Official control and certification of enterprises, using the protected names (PDOs and PGIs)
  ° Market official control for the legal use of registered PDOs and PGIs
  ° Keeping - updating official registry of certified companies for production of PDO and PGI products
   
• Ministry of Rural Development and Food
  Directorate of Organic Farming, Department of PDO PGI, Traditional and Specialty Food
  (http://www.minagric.gr/greek/3.6.POP.html)
  
  Main competences
  ° Elaboration of National legislation, concerning PDO PGI and Traditional Food
  ° Supervision of implementation of EU PDO PGI and TSG regime in Greece
  ° Scrutiny of applications for protection of GIs
  ° Consulting of producers’ groups, interested in registering a name as a PDO or PGI

Labelling and consumer education

Special labelling rules may be included in the specifications of each product. Specifications are accessible through EU data base DOOR (http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html). Furthermore, article 11 of Joint Ministerial Decision number 261611/7-3-2007 lays down horizontal rules of labeling of PDO and PGI products. In particular the following indications are compulsory on the labeling of a PDO or PGI product:
° The registered name in the Greek language
° The logo of the control body AGROCERT
° Special code numbers, according to specifications of each product
° The name and address of the producer, the address of the establishment, where the product was made and the name and address of the packager (if other than the producer).
° In case the product is repackaged in smaller packages, all the above information is transferred on the labeling of the smaller package. In addition the name and the address of the company conducting the re packaging is also indicated on the labeling.
° The above mentioned information is also compulsory in case of private label PDO PGI products.

Aiming at consumer education, several programs and activities are carried out by producers’ groups and organizations of stakeholders.  Some examples are shown in the following sites:
http://www.cheesenet.gr/english/index.htm
http://www.doratisfisis.gr
http://www.oliveoil.gr/en/index.jsp
http://www.elia-info.gr/

Products

(Products’ Specifications accessible through EU data base DOOR http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html)

Publications

• Traditional foods: Why and how to sustain them

• Traditional foods: a science and society perspective

• The micronutrient content of traditional Greek foods

• Hellenic PDO and PGI Chesses http://www.minagric.gr/greek/data/cheese-low40.pdf

• "Womens’ Cooperations in Hellenic country side – Traditional Products" (*)
• "Xinohontros – Trahanas" A Greek traditional product (Agricultural University of Athens) (*)
• Mediterranean Diet , Supreme Scientific Health Council, Athens 2004 (*)

Events

International exhibitions (including traditional and PDO PGI products)

- 23nd INTERNATIONAL FAIR FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES

From:2/3/2010
To:2/7/2010          
Phone:2310291101, Fax:2310291551, eMail:agrotica@helexpo.gr
Organization: HELEXPO
Agrotica 2010
http://www.helexpo.gr/default.aspx?lang=en-US&loc=1&page=1181

- 3rd Exhibition of Organic Products

From:3/5/2010
To:3/7/2010                  
Phone:2310 291201, Fax:2310 291658, eMail:biologica@helexpo.gr
Organization: Helexpo
Biologica 2010

- 3rd Olive Oil and Olive Festival

From:10/4/2010
To:12/4/2010
Peace and Friendship Stadium, Piraeus, Greece
http://www.edpa.gr/en

- 2nd Dairy and Cheese Festival

From:16/10/2009
To:18/10/2009
Piraeus Port Authority
10, Akti Miaouli Str. Piraeus, Greece
http://www.edpa.gr/en

- 2nd Festival of Hellenic Honey

From:04/12/2009
To:06/12/2009
Piraeus Port Authority
10, Akti Miaouli Str. Piraeus, Greece
http://www.edpa.gr/el

Workshop on Traditional Foods

19th International  Congress of Nutrition
Bangkok, Thailand (Attachment 4)
Workshop on Nutritional Aspects of Traditional Foods and their Health Implications
Organized by
-    HELLENIC HEALTH FOUNDATION www.hhf-greece.gr and
-    FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS www.fao.org

Trichopoulou Antonia. Traditional foods in Europe: definition and safeguarding.

- PPT presentation (Attachement 5)

Contact

Anastasia Pagida
Department of PDO PGI, Traditional and Specialty Food PDO PGI
Directorate of Organic Farming
Ministry of Rural Development and Food
Postal Address: Acharnon 29, 10439 Athens, Greece
Tel.: 00302102128153
Fax: 00302108821241
E-mail: ax29u030@minagric.gr

Antonia Trichopoulou
The Hellenic Health Foundation (HHF)
Postal Address: 10-12 Tetrapoleos Street, 115 27, Athens, Greece
Tel.: 00302107770697
Fax: 00302107770771
E-mail: atrichopoulou@hhf-greece.gr

HUNGARY

Policy and Legislation

• National legislation

Government Decree 158/2009 on the proceeding of the protection and control of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs and spirit drinks – formulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Ministry of Justice
158/2009. (VII. 30.) Korm. rendelet a mezőgazdasági termékek és az élelmiszerek, valamint a szeszes italok földrajzi árujelzőinek oltalmára irányuló eljárásról és a termékek ellenőrzéséről

Ministerial Decree 15/2008 on the approval and control of agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed – formulated by the MARD
15/2008. (II. 15.) FVM rendelet a hagyományos különleges termékeknek minősülő mezőgazdasági termékek és élelmiszerek elismerésének és ellenőrzésének rendjéről

(Decree of the Government No. 87/1998 was repealed.)

The above-referred regulations are available also on the website of the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (http://www.fvm.hu/main.php?folderID=1929)and of the Hungarian Patent Office (http://www.mszh.hu/English/jogforras/jogforras_faru/index.html)

• Community laws and regulations

Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 of 20 March 2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1898/2006 of 14 December 2006 laying down detailed rules of implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89

Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 of 29 April 2008 on the common organisation of the market in wine, amending Regulations (EC) No 1493/1999, (EC) No 1782/2003, (EC) No 1290/2005, (EC) No 3/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2392/86 and (EC) No 1493/1999

Commission Regulation (EC) No 114/2009 of 6 February 2009 laying down transitional measures for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 as regards the references to wines with a protected designation of origin and a protected geographical indication 

Council Regulation (EC) No. 491/2009 of 25 May 2009, establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation), including provisions on geographical indications for wines.

Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2006 of 20 March 2006 on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1216/2007 of 18 October 2007 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2006 of 20 March 2006 on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed

• Inernational laws and regulations

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

Verification of compliance with the specifications, before placing the product on the market, is ensured by the competent authority responsible for controls [Mezőgazdasági Szakigazgatási Hivatal (Central Agricultural Office) http://www.mgszh.gov.hu].
There are no certification bodies to control PDO and PGI producer’s group.

Labelling and consumer education

 

HÍR (TTR) trademark system for products

HÍR trademark system formed the basis for a call for tender published by Hungarian Agrarian-marketing Centre in August 2009. Producers or producer groups submitted 58 applications in response to the call till deadline November 30, 2009. The evaluation of the applications is in process by the Evaluation Committee established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The list of products using HÍR trademark will be published on the website of the Agricultural Marketing Centre (http://www.amc.hu).

„Guaranteed Traditional and Special”national protection

Before the EU accession of Hungaryof 2004, traditional soda water was the only product with the national certificate of “Guaranteed Traditional and Special” product.

Soda water, also known as seltzer (in Hungarian: szikvíz),is created by aerating drinking water with carbon dioxide. Soda water occupies an important place in the history of Hungarian gastronomic culture. Soda water is consumed directly to quench people's thirst and mixed with wine to make a drink known as a spritzer (in Hungarian: fröccs). In Hungary, a special culture has evolved around the consumption of the spritzer. See more details in the soda water case on the IAMA website:  https://www.ifama.org/events/conferences/2010/cmsdocs/BaNFFI_Case_09%20Student%20Case%20Comp%20Preliminaries.pdf

 

Logo

HÍR (TTR) trademark
TTRtrademarksystemforproducts
(preparationphase)

Traditional speciality guaranteed
One product under national protection („sodawater”)

The details of the labelling initiative or call for tender are published on the website of the Agricultural Marketing Centre (http://www.amc.hu/hu/node/594).

Products

(Products’ Specifications accessible through EU data base DOOR http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html)

Publications

The first source of information  on GI and traditional food linked to geographic origins for food and agriculture products is the website of the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (http://www.fvm.hu/main.php?folderID=1005).
 

Events

Contact

1. For Geographical Indications (GI) issues
Ms Eniko Zobor
Quality Policy Advisor
Department of Food Chain Development
Food Industry Division
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Hungary
1055 Budapest, Kossuth L. ter 11
Tel.:                +36 1 301 4419        
Fax: +36 1 301 4808
E-mail: Eniko.Zobor@fvm.gov.hu

2. For Traditional Food Products (TFP) issues
Mrs. Imola Kisérdi-Palló Ph.D.
Special Advisor
Department for EU Coordination and International Affairs
Ministrz of Agriculture and Rural Development
Phone:                +36 1 301 4463        
Fax: +36 1 301 4663
E-mail: Imola.Pallone.Kiserdi@fvm.gov.hu

IRELAND

Policy and Legislation

 »    EU legislation

Ireland operates within the European system, which is administered under the following European Council Regulations:
–    Council Regulation (EC) No. 510/2006 of 20 March 2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs.
–    Council Regulation (EC) No. 509/2006 of 20 March 2006 on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed
–    Council Regulation (EC) No. 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/agri-foodindustry/promotionmarketing/schemeforprotectionofagriculturalproductnames/

»    National legislation

EU legislation is binding across the Member States. Enforcement Regulations are in place.
European Communities (Definition, Description and Presentation of Spirit Drinks) Regulations, 1995 (S.I. No. 300 of 1995), adopted on 16 November 1995
http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/details.jsp?id=2336

Irish Whiskey is also protected under the Irish Whiskey Act 1980.
Irish Cream is manufactured in accordance with NSAI IS 416: 1992
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1980/en/act/pub/0033/index.html

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

The National Standards Authority of Ireland is Ireland's Standards body facilitating the development of voluntary standards.
The Irish National Accreditation Board, INAB, is the national body with responsibility for Accreditation in Ireland.
In the case of Ireland’s Protected Designations, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is the competent authority for verification of controls under Council Regulation 510/2006.

Products

(Products’ Specifications accessible through EU data base DOOR     http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html)

Publications

Contact

Marian Byrne
Head of Food Division
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

ITALY

Policy and Legislation

»    National legislation

Italy has got a policy for Geographical Indications and traditional food products in the context of the European Community policy on agricultural products:

Rules about Geographical Indications in the Industrial Property Code – Legislative Decree No. 30, 10 February 2005.

With regard to traditional products, rules are set in Decree of the Ministry of Agricultural and Food Policies: decreto ministeriale n. 350, 8 September 1999.

»    EU legislation

At the European Community Level, the relevant legal provisions are:

Council Regulation (EC) No. 510/2006 of 20 March 2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designation of origin for agricultural products and foodstaffs, related PDO and PGI other than wines and spirits.

Regulation (EC) No. 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1576/89.

Council Regulation (EC) No. 491/2009 of 25 May 2009, establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation), including provisions on geographical indications for wines.

In the context of the European quality policy, the Commission decided to launch a reflection getting the opinion of stakeholders. For that reason, the Commission released, on 15 October 2008, a Green Paper asking open questions on the different issues related to quality. Then, a Communication was published on 28 May 2009
(http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/policy/index_en.htm)

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

The national authority responsible for Geographical indications and traditional products protection is the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies. Relevant information is on the website:
http://www.politicheagricole.it/default.html
http://www.politicheagricole.gov.it/ProdottiQualita/default

Labelling and consumer education

Agricultural and food products labelling has a general regulation in the national legislation, and in the European Directive No. 2000/13/EC transposed into national legislation by the Legislative Decree of 23 June 2003, No. 181 “Implementation of Directive 2000/13/EC on the labelling and presentation of food, and advertising”.
http://www.camera.it/parlam/leggi/deleghe/testi/03181dl.htm - Legislative Decree of 23 June 2003

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32000L0013:EN:HTML - Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs

Available in pdf format at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/pri/it/oj/dat/2000/l_109/l_10920000506it00200042.pdf

Products

(Products’ Specifications accessible through EU data base DOOR http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html )

Publications

Information on geographic indication and traditional food can be retrieved on the website of the Foundation for the protection and the valorisation of quality agri-food products www.qualivita.it

Rosati, M. 2009. Qualigeo©Atlas European and non-European PDO, PGI, TSG agri-food products.     Fondazione Qualivita. Sienam Italy. 34 p. Available at http://www.qualivita.it

Contact

Mr Riccado Deserti
Director
Division for agro-food development, qualità and consumer’s protection
Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies

KAZAKHSTAN

Policy and Legislation

http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/ipworldwide/pdf/kz.pdf

KYRGYZSTAN

Policy and Legislation

http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/ipworldwide/pdf/kg.pdf

LATVIA

Policy and Legislation

Main Objectives Relating to GIs and AOC
Sections 1 and 2 provide that the Law regulates trademark registration and use, and geographical indications in (Chapter IX). It also provides for collective marks (Chapter VII).
Comments: The law is basically a Trademarks law, most of the provisions in the law deal with trademarks. Regarding the protection of GIs, the law has its basis in unfair competition (Section 43). GIs do not require registration for them to gain protection (Section 40).
http://www.lrpv.lv/index.php?lang=EN&id=26&topic=139&topic=139

2. The Regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers No 126 (10 February 2009) on procedure for registration and protection of geographical indications of agricultural products and foodstuffs.

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

The Competent authority and control body for PGI, PDO and TSG is Food and Veterinary Service, Peldu 30, Riga, LV-1050; e-mail: pvd@pvd.gov.lv;
Website: http://www.pvd.gov.lv

Patent Office of Latvia: http://www.lrpv.lv/index.php?lang=EN&id=26

Events

Latvia is still working with food producers and food processors to encourage them to take part in PGI, PDO and TSG schemes

Contact

Ms Baiba Karklina
E-mail: baiba.karklina@zm.gov.lv
Tel.:                +371 6 7027638        
Senior officer of Biotechnology and Quality Division
Veterinary and Food processing Department
Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia

LITHUANIA

Policy and Legislation

http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/ipworldwide/pdf/lt.pdf

MALTA

Policy and Legislation

The legislation concerned:
Legal Notice 182 of 2004 “The Geographical Indications and Designations Regulations” ;
Legal Notice 183 of 2004 “Certificates of Specific Character Regulations”    
http://www.msa.org.mt/rad/foodstuffs/index.htm#QP

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

The Standardization Directorate within the Malta Standards Authority is a certification body.
 
The Malta Standard Authority (MSA) was established in 2000 by virtue of Chapter 419 of the Revised Edition of the Laws of Malta. With reference to Article 3 of Chap. 419, as last amended by Act XXIX of 2007, the MSA has a legal personality distinct from that of Government and its legal and judicial representation is vested in its Chairman. (www.msa.org.mt)

http://www.msa.org.mt/rad/foodstuffs/index.htm#DSP
http://www.msa.org.mt/certification/services9001.htm

Labelling and consumer education

http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_packaging/index_en.htm

Contact

Contact person for GI issues:
Ms Ingrid Busuttil
Assistant Head – Regulatory Affairs Directorate
Foodstaffs, Chemicals, Pesticides and Cosmetics Unit
Malta Standard Authority    
2nd floor, Evans Building,
Merchants Street,
Valletta VLT 1179,
Malta

E-mail: Ingrid.borg@msa.org.mt
Tel. : +356 23952000
Fax : +356 21 242406

NORWAY

Policy and Legislation

The Norwegian system is similar to the EU Regulation No 509/2006 and 510/2006. The regulation was carried into effect July 5th, 2002 (fish and seafood from October 2003)
http://www.lovdata.no

http://www.lovdata.no/cgi-wift/wiftldes?doc=/usr/www/lovdata/for/sf/fi/ti-20020705-0698-002.html&emne=beskyttede*%20betegnels*&

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet): http://mattilsynet.no
http://www.mattilsynet.no/portal/page?_pageid=54,40103&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&language=english

KSL Matmerk (Norwegian Food Labelling Foundation) http://kslmatmerk.no

Labelling and consumer education

Norway has a GI and traditional food products labelling system. Norway does not have a consumer education program.
http://www.lovdata.no/cgi-wift/wiftdles?doc=/usr/www/lovdata/for/sf/fi/ti-20020705-0698-002.html&emne=beskyttede*%20betegnels*&

Publications

http://www.beskyttedebetegnelser.no/seksjoner/godkjente_produkter

Contact

Silje Johnson
Senior Advisor
Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food

ROMANIA

Policy and Legislation

Romania has a policy for Geographic Indications and traditional food products. Information can be retrieved on the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development website
http://www.mapam.ro/pages/page.php?self=01⊂=0103

Law on Trade Marks and Geographical Indications (No. 84 of April 15, 1998)
http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/details.jsp?id=3585
Text: http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/text_html.jsp?lang=EN&id=3585

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

Romanian Private Inspections and Certification bodies (www.madr.ro)

SC CERTIND SA
Bucureşti, Sector 1, str. George Enescu nr. 27-29 -“Palatul UGIR 1903”,
tel./fax:                0213133651        ,
E-mail: office@certind.ro
Website: www.certind.ro
Contact person: Mr Dumitru Rãduţ, General Director

ROMCONTROL S.A:
Str. Polona nr 16, sector 1, Bucuresti 010502
Tel: 021- 313.18.17 sau 021-313.06.79
Fax: 021- 312.56.30 sau 021- 311.09.07
Email: marketing@romcontrol.ro
Website: www.romcontrol.ro
Contact person: Mr Viorel Paul, President, General Director

LAREX CERT
Sos. Vitan – Barzesti nr. 11B, sector 4, Bucuresti
Tel.: 334.78.65; 334.57.02; 0722.558.433, Tel/Fax:334.51.42,
E-mail: larex@rdsmail.ro
Website: www.larex.ro
Contact person: Mr Vladimir Soare, General Director
http://www.mapam.ro/pages/page.php?self=01&sub=0103&art=010303&var=010302

Products

(Products’ Specifications accessible through EU data base DOOR
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html)

Publications

Todea, A. Oroian, I. Holonec, L. Arion, F. Mocanu, C. 2009. Legal Protection for Geographical Indications and Designations of Origin for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs. Bulletin UASVM Horticulture, 66(2)/2009. 4 p. Available at http://journals.usamvcj.ro/horticulture/article/viewFile/4386/4077

Events

For other events, please visit the website:
http://www.mapam.ro/afaceri.php

Contact

Ms Roxana Cristina GRADINARIU
European Affairs Counselor
Direction for European Affairs and International Relations
Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Rural Development
Tel.:                +40213078532        
Fax: +40213078627
E-mail: roxana.gradinariu@madr.ro

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Policy and Legislation

http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/ipworldwide/pdf/ru.pdf

SERBIA (Republic of Serbia)

Policy and Legislation

The Law on Geographic Indications (Official Gazette SCG 20/2006) replaces the Law that has been adopted in 1995 and which allowed the implementation of a PDO/PGI system similar to the European model but lacked, in its application, several fundamental principles such as the collective character of the PDO/PGI, the certification and controlling procedures.

The current situation:
Draft Law on GI – public discussion
Major news in relation to the existing legal framework are:
• Authorized users can only be manufacturers or processors, or their associations;
• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water management (MAFWM) will be responsible for the setting-up processes of control and certification of agricultural and foodstuff products with Geographic Indication – must ensure adequate control, which would be the same as controls at the EU level. Bodies that exercise control must ensure objectivity and impartiality in relation to all producers or processors who are subject to their control;
• MAFWM will be responsible for setting up a national system of labelling agricultural and foodstuff products with Geographic Indication (also by Food Safety Law is given a legal basis to the MAFWM to realize this activity;
• This law will provide a higher level transparency of the whole application procedure.

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water management (MAFWM)
http://www.minpolj.gov.rs/index.php?j=cir&id_menu=2
Food quality:
http://www.minpolj.gov.rs/index.php?stranica=kom_clanak&naredba=lista&id_kategorija=112&id=1251

Publications

Paus, M. 2008, Geographical Indications in Transition countries: Governance, vertical Integration and territorial Impact. Illustration with case studies from Serbia. Contributed Paper presented at IAMO Forum 2008. 16 p.

See also: Case studies on Quality Products Linked to Geographical Origin in Balkans
http://www.foodquality-origin.org/documents/etudecasEuropeEst.pdf

Events

According to the GI Law, MAFWM takes more responsible role in the whole GI system. A series of workshops are planned for producers, processors and consumers aiming at better understanding the GI concept and general increasing public awareness:
• Capacity building/training for MAFWM staff in the area of GIs
• Support in the establishment of an efficient control and certification system
• Support the improvement of the legal and overall institutional framework for GIs
• Assist producers in protecting GI and devepoling marketing strategies for their product
• Increase general public awareness on GIs (among producers, domestic consumers, and export markets)

Contact

Contact person for GI issues:
MA Mr Milos Milovanovic
Assistant of the Minister
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of  Republic of Serbia

E-mail: milos.milovanovic@minpolj.gov.rs

SLOVAKIA (Slovak Republic)

Policy and Legislation

Slovakia has a policy for the Geographical Indications and traditional food products. Currently the Ministry of Agriculture is preparing a new concept of Policy Quality which is focused on consumer as well as on producers.

»    EU Legislation on the Policy Quality for all Member States
 
• Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 of 20 March 2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs
• Commission Regulation (EC) No 1898/2006 of 14 December 2006 laying down detailed rules of implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs
• Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2006 of 20 March 2006 on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialties guaranteed
• Commission Regulation (EC) No 1216/2007 of 18 October 2007 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2006 on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialties guaranteed

»   National legislation

Act No 195 Of March 20th, 2007, Amending and Supplementing the Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 152/1995 Coll. On Foodstuffs, as subsequently amended.

Act No. 469/2003 Coll. of 28 October 2003 on Designations of Origin for Products and Geographical Indications for Products and on Amendment of Some Acts, as amended by Act No. 84/2007 Coll. and Act No. 279/2007 Coll.
http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/details.jsp?id=5189
Text: http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/text_pdf.jsp?lang=EN&id=5189

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

Labelling and consumer education

Slovak republic as a member of the European Union has a common EU system of food products labelling of GI and traditional food.
http://www.land.gov.sk/politikakvality/index.php?go=3

In line with the new concept of Policy Quality of the Ministry of Agriculture, focused on consumer as well as on producers, it is intended to organize seminars, conferences, renovate website of Policy Quality, prepare brochures and other actions.

Products

- List of registered and protected designations of origin and geographical indications in the register of Industrial property office of Slovak republic as of August 1, 2009
http://www.indprop.gov.sk/?list-of-registered-and-protected-designations-of-origin-and-geographical-indications-in-the-register-of-industrial-property-office-of-slovak-republic-as-of-august-1-2009

- Slovak Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications Food in EU database DOOR
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html

Events

Seminars and workshops are at level of preparation and we are looking for some partners, experts. We are planning a seminar around December 2009 focused on control bodies which perform controls of products with GI on EU market. Next year, 2010, we plan to prepare regional information seminars for producers.

Contact

PhD, Ms Ildikó Maggioni Brázová
Director of food industry department
Ministry of Agriculture of the Slovak Republic

SWEDEN

Policy and Legislation

Sweden has a policy on Geographic Indications and traditional food products according to the EC nr. 509/2006 and EC nr. 510/2006.

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

The National Food Administration (www.SLV.se/en-gb/)
Box 622
SE – 75/26 Uppsala
Sweden

Products

(Products’ Specifications accessible through EU data base DOOR
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html

Contact

Mr Mojtaba Ghodsi
Ministry of Agriculture

SWITZERLAND (Confederation of Helvetia)

Policy and Legislation

Switzerland has a policy for Geographical Indications, but not a policy for Traditional Food Products.

•    Federal Law on Agriculture (Articles 14-16 on Designations):
http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/910_1/index.html (German)
http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/910_1/index.html  (French)

•    Ordinance on Designations of Origin (GUB/AOP) and on Geographical Indications (GGA/IGP)

FR : Ordonnance du 28 mai 1997 concernant la protection des appellations d’origine et des indications géographiques des produits agricoles et des produits agricoles transformés (Ordonnance sur les AOP et les IGP)
http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/c910_12.html (French)

D: Verordnung vom 28. Mai 1997 über den Schutz von Ursprungsbezeichnungen und geographischen Angaben für landwirtschaftliche Erzeugnisse und verarbeitete landwirtschaftliche Erzeugnisse (GUB/GGA-Verordnung)
http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/c910_12.html (German)

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

The Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS) is the government body that examines and accredits conformity assessment bodies ( (laboratories, inspection bodies and certification bodies) according to international standards:
http://www.seco.admin.ch/sas/index.html?lang=en

Producers wishing to use the protected designations GUB/AOP and GGA/IGP must have their product certified by a SAS-accredited certification body.

Labelling and consumer education

There are no labels or logos issued by government authorities in Switzerland. No specific consumer programmes related to GIs exist.

Publications

There are no journals in terms of recurring publications. The following page contains information on the protected designations in Switzerland. It contains a guide outlining the procedure for submitting an application for registration: http://www.blw.admin.ch/themen/00013/00085/00094/index.html

Contact

Ms Giuseppina Pagano
Federal Department of Economic Affairs FDEA
Federal Office for Agriculture FOAG
International Sustainable Agriculture Unit
Mattenhofstrasse 5, CH-3003 Berne
Phone +41 31 322 25 54    
Fax +41 31 322 26 34
giuseppina.pagano@blw.admin.ch
www.blw.admin.ch

TAJIKISTAN

Policy and Legislation

http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/ipworldwide/pdf/tj.pdf

TURKEY

Policy and Legislation

Decree-Law No. 555 Pertaining to the Protection of Geographical Signs in Force ds from 27 June 1995. 
http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/details.jsp?id=3855
Text: http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/text_html.jsp?lang=EN&id=3855

Implementing Regulations under the Decree-Law No. 555 pertaining to the Protection of Geographical Signs of November 5, 1995
http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/details.jsp?id=3856
Text: http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/text_html.jsp?lang=EN&id=3856

National Authorities/Registration and protection of GI and TFP

Turkish Patent Institute  
http://www.turkpatent.gov.tr/portal/default_en.jsp?sayfa=174

Products

Information on GI products can be found on the Turkish Patent Institute website:
http://www.turkpatent.gov.tr/portal/default_en.jsp?sayfa=172

Events

The first international food symposium "Traditional Foods from Adriatic to Caucasus", 15-17 April 2010, Tekirdag.
Organizers: Namık Kemal University Food Engineering Department based on the Trilateral Agreement between Trakya University, State University of Tetova and Namık Kemal University.
http://traditionalfoods.nku.edu.tr
http://www.gelenekselgidslar.com/sempozyum/

Contact

Mr Halis Korkut
Head of Department
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
General Directorate of Protection and Control
Feed and Food Registration Department
Tel. (0090)3124251915
Fax. (0090)3124669045
E-mail. halisk@kkgm.gov.tr

TURKMENISTAN

Policy and Legislation

http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/ipworldwide/pdf/tm.pdf