The EU has strengthened the rules for the protection of geographical indications for food and beverages

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According to the Brussels announcement, the regulation will bring tangible benefits to the rural economy and will help preserve the EU’s gastronomic heritage worldwide. The improved system for geographical indications will strengthen the role of European producer groups by giving them powers and responsibilities to manage their geographical indications. This is how they can, for example, represent their members in networks dealing with the enforcement of intellectual property rights. Member States have the option of classifying producer groups as recognized producer groups, which can exercise exclusive rights on behalf of all producers of the GI product. Geographical indications marking the ingredient received stronger protection, if the geographical indication is used in the name of processed food containing the ingredient, in these cases the recognized producer groups will have to be notified, and the percentage of the ingredient will have to be indicated – they informed. The legislative change finally strengthens the role of the European Commission in the examination of applications for the registration of products as geographical indications. The decree will enter into force on the twentieth day after its signing and announcement, the announcement states.

MTI