EU: Better protection of quality agricultural products

The European Parliament supports the improvement of the protection of quality agricultural products, for which MEPs consider that:

Geographical indications (GIs)—intellectual property rights that identify products that have qualities, characteristics, or reputations derived from natural and human factors related to their place of origin—should be better protected on the Internet. Domains using a GI name without the right to do so should be automatically closed or transferred to a producer group that uses the GI legally. For this purpose, the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) must establish an alert system that tracks domain name registrations.

Parliament demands that GIs be better protected in the processed food sector. Processed foods that contain a GI ingredient should not be allowed to be named after a GI, unless permitted by the GI producers.

GI registration should be faster. The Commission should only have five months to register a new GI.

National Authorities should process most requests to change existing GI registrations without having to re-verify them by the Commission. According to MEPs, the European Commission has unique experience in the field of agriculture and therefore should continue to administer the system of geographical indications, and not the EUIPO.

Finally, MEPs say that recognized producer groups should be given more rights and resources. They should be responsible for setting the minimum conditions for the use of the GI name and overseeing the fair use of the GI. Recognized producer groups should also be able to receive mandatory financial contributions from all producers of a GI product.

The report, which will serve as the basis for negotiations with the EU Council on the final form of the legislative text, was adopted by 603 votes to 18, with 8 abstentions.

Geographical indications of origin (GIs) have existed in the EU since the 1970s. To date, the EU GI registry contains almost 3,500 entries, valued at 74.8 billion euros. The selling price of a protected name product is often twice that of similar products without certification.

By adopting this resolution, the Parliament responds to citizens' expectations of de-standardization of products and recognition of local and regional cultural and industrial characteristics, as expressed in Proposition 12(3) of the Conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe.