WTO rules against Europe on food names

A confidential interim report sent to the European Union by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) advises that the EU's system for protecting brand names from a particular region is incompatible with WTO rules, because it does not allow the registration on non-European products. The outcome of the dispute will ultimately determine whether the EU can obtain global protection for its regional food names such as Parma ham and Burgundy wine.

BBC News: EU hopeful of food name victory , 19.11.04 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4026437.stm

European Commission: DG Agriculture: Agriculture and Food: Quality labels: Quality products catch the eye: PDO, PGI and TSG http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/index_en.htm

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