Geographical Indications in the EU

• Bogotá, 12-13 December 2019

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• What are the Geographical Indications (GIs)

• EU Colombia, Ecuador and Peru GIs

• EU GI Policy

• Conclusions

Geographical Indications – what are they?

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Names of products with a specific link to the place where they are made

Café de Colombia Agri-

food

but alsonon agri-food

Geographical Indications – what are they?

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A global phenomenon/ 8100 GIs recognisedworldwide (source: oriGIn)

o WTO TRIPso WIPO – Lisbon

Agreement/Geneva Acto Bilateral Agreementso Regional/National

legislation

Geographical Indications EU - Colombia, Ecuador and Peru Trade Agreement

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• Trade Agreement – chapter on GIs (Articles 207-214)

• Recognition and protection of GIs

• Definition of GIs – quality, reputation, other characteristics exclusively or essentially due to the geographical environment with inherent human factors

• Framework for protection of GIs: against identical or like products, exploitation of reputation, unauthorised uses …, unlimited in time, …

• Possibility to add new GIs

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• EU: 116 GIs recognised by Colombia, Ecuador, Peru (Annex XIII to the Trade Agreement) including:

Danablu, Münchener Bier, Irish whiskey, Rioja, Cava, Jerez, Camembert de Normandie, Roquefort,

Bordeaux, Médoc, Gorgonzola, Parmigiano Reggiano, Chianti, Ouzo, Oporto, Vodka of Finland etc.

Geographical Indications EU - Colombia, Ecuador and Peru Trade Agreement

Geographical Indications EU - Colombia, Ecuador and Peru

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• Colombia• Recognised: 11 GIs (Café de Colombia, Cholupa del Huila, Café de Nariño, Café de Cauca,

Café del Huila, Bizcocho de Achira del Huila, Queso Paipa, Queso del Caquetá, Clavel de Colombia, Rosa de Colombia, Crisantemo de Colombia)

• In the process for recognition: 4 new GIs (Café de Santander, Arroz de la Meseta de Ibagué, Bocadillo Veleño, Cangrejo Negro de Providencia)

• Ecuador• Recognised: One GI (Cacao Arriba)

• In the process for recognition: 4 new GIs (Café de Galapagos, Maní de Transkutukú, Pitahaya Amazonica de Palora, Lojano Café de Origen)

• Peru• Recognised: 3 GIs (Pisco, Maíz Blanco Gigante Cusco, Pallar de Ica)

• In the process for recognition: 6 new GIs (Café Machu-Picchu, Loche de Lambayeque, Maca Junín-Pasco, Café Villa Rica, Aceituna de Tacna, Cacao Amazonas Perú)

EU Policy on Geographical Indications (GIs)

• Part of the EU’s CommonAgricultural Policy (CAP) -diversification of agriculturalproduction, considerable benefit tothe rural economy and society,impacting positively on biodiversity,improving income of farmers,retaining rural population, …

• Development of a Quality Policy aiming at farmers and consumers

• In Europe: early 20th century (e.g. AOC France)

• At EU level: specific labelling rules on agricultural products in the late 70’s; specific legislation on spirits with Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89; first comprehensive regulatory framework on agricultural products and foodstuffs GIs in 1992 (R. (EEC) No 2081/92)

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GIs in the EU – only in relation to agri-foodproducts

• Agricultural products and foodstuffs (cheese, meat, beer, bread, pastry, cork, flowers, leather, …) –

Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012)

• Wine (grapes exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is made or at least 85% -

Regulations (EU) No 1306/2013 and No 1308/2013)

• Spirits / Aromatised wine(Rum, Whisky, Grape marc, … / Glühwein, Sangria, Vermouth, … -

Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 / Regulation (EU) No 251/2014)

- PDOs - Protected Designations of Origin - PGIs - Protected Geographical Indications

- PDOs - Protected Designations of Origin - PGIs - Protected Geographical Indications

- GIs -Geographical Indications (GIs)

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GIs, PDOs and PGIs protect the name of a product, which is from a specific region and follow a particular traditional production process. Differences linked primarily to how much of the raw materials come from the area or how much of the production process has to take place in the specific region

Registered GIs (3.243) by Sector - August 2019

08/2019

Food; 1395

Wine; 1605

Spirit drinks; 238 Aromatised wines; 5

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Registered GIs by EU Member State – August 2019

08/2019

856

736

350

269

189170

76 68 66 58 53 46 45 43 34 34 32 22 18 13 12 10 9 9 5 3 3 10

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

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Study on economic data* (volume, value and trade) of GIs and TSGs

• Sales value of EU GIs/TSGs: €77,1 billion in 2017 (estimated at wholesale stage in the region of production)

• 7% of the total EU food and drink sector (5,7% in 2010)

• Estimate of EU GI/TSGs exports value to non-EU countries: € 17,03 billion

• 15,5% of EU food and drink industry exports

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* provisional data

EU GI Benefits - what is in for producers

• Name is reserved to products respecting thespecification

• Production is kept in the geographical area

• Collective right, name is not reserved to onesingle producer, but can be used by allproducers respecting the specification

• Administrative protection by Member Statepublic authorities for EU wide protection

• Differentiation on the market allows often abetter price

• Group organisation with a great potential forbetter division of the added value along thefood chain

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EU GIs: what is in for consumers

• Guarantee on the:

• Origin of the product

• Quality of the product (specification)

• Authenticity of the product (no imitation)

• Ensured by controls on production site and on the market

• Quality designations prevent the standardization of products and offer a wider choice to consumers

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Factors influencing Europeans’ food product purchases

Labels identified by consumers:

Fairtrade, organic, PDO, PGI, TSG

Special Eurobarometer 473 – Europeans, Agriculture and CAP, February 2018

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EU GIs – Benefits Society

• Secures more of the added value processes in local areas:• Maintain jobs in (often) remote areas

• Maintain economic activities in rural communities

• Lead potentially to job creation

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EU GIs – Benefits Society

• GIs encourage the preservation of • Biodiversity (local races, varieties)

• Local savoir-faire and traditional methods

• Landscapes tourism

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EU GIs – controls / enforcement (Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012)

▪ EU Official Controls

• EU Member States Competent Authorities – possibility to delegate to accredited control bodies

• Prior to placing on the market

• Verification that a product complies with the corresponding product specification – any operator that uses the name is part of the control system

• Market Controls

• Surveillance based on risk analysis

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Conclusions

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• Geographical Indications – “our rural intellectual property, protecting farmers’ and producer’s rights”

• Guaranteeing authenticity and value added to consumers and to the society.

• They protect local value at global scale; can be drivers for economic activity.

• Encourage the preservation of biodiversity, local savoir-faire and traditional methods.

EU GI example

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Feta (Protected Denomination of Origin in the EU - 2002)

• milk produced only in specific areas in Greece (mainland, Peloponnese, Thessalia, …)

• specific climatic conditions, landscape and flora influence on milk production

• milk from pure ewe's milk or from a mixture of ewe's and goat's milk (specific proportions)

• traditional production methods

• …

A product with quality or characteristicsexclusively due to itsparticular geographicenvironment withinherent natural and human factorsProduction steps all take place in the defined geographicalarea

EU GI example

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Prosciutto di San Daniele (Protected

Denomination of Origin in the EU - 1996)

• Municipality of San Daniele del Friuli only (Province of Udine, Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia)

• rearing and slaughter pre-defined area, specificbreeds

• unique background, merger between the characteristics of the raw material, the method of preparation of the product and the affirmation of the designation which is intimately linked with the specific socio-economic development of the geographical area

• …

A product with quality or characteristicsexclusively due to itsparticular geographicenvironment withinherent natural and human factorsProduction steps all take place in the defined geographicalarea

GIs differentiation tools in marketingstrategies: from mere source indicators to brands

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• Geographical indications are distinctive signs used to differentiate competing goods. They function as product differentiators on the market

• The role of labels and logos Brand recognition is an essential aspect of marketing

• Consumers are prepared to pay more for such productsSpecific markets for products linked to their place of origin

Thank you!

Luis Carazo Jiménez

Head of Unit – the Americas

DG AGRI

https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/food-safety-and-

quality/certification/quality-labels_en