EU Wants WTO to Act on Quality Food

September 28, 2001

The European Union wants the World Trade Organization to make certain that products that claim special qualities deliver on the promise.

"We cannot let people believe that they are buying a genuine product with specific qualities, characteristics and reputation associated with a certain geographical origin, such as Parma Ham or Champagne, while in fact they get a entirely different product", EU negotiator David Roberts said in Geneva. "Therefore an appropriate mechanism should guarantee effective protection against usurpation of names and the right to use geographical indications or designations of origin. Consumer protection and fair competition should also be ensured."

The EU argues that when a food product becomes well-known outside its area of origin, it may have to compete with different and yet similar products making use of the same name. It may even be excluded from exploiting its own geographical name because local producers have converted it into a trademark.

"Unauthorized use of geographical indications is extremely harmful to consumers and legitimate producers. On the one hand, the genuine producers suffer economic damage because valuable business is taken away from them and the established reputation for their products is compromised. On the other hand this situation also leaves the consumers with feelings of frustration because they do not receive the specific quality of product which the label suggest they are buying", said David Roberts, the European Commission's negotiator at the WTO agriculture talks.

Therefore, says the EU, it is important that increased market access goes hand in hand with enhanced protection. "Improved market access for such products is not only important for the EU. Developing countries, who possess a great richness and variety of food products based on traditional know-how, stand to benefit as well from increased protection against misuse of their specialized food product denominations. Therefore the EU proposes that an appropriate protection mechanism should be put in place," according to EU officials.