The result of these policies is that hard cheeses are produced in low-income countries, shipped over long distances and then relabeled “Parmasan” in the Parma region, to be shipped long distance again to its end destination.
The EU’s disputed system of geographical indications is taking over the planet (2017)
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Re: The EU’s disputed system of geographical indications is taking over the planet (2017)
#12> To some, the very idea of signing away their heritage still rankles, however. "The Old World supplied the immigrants. It seems to be very weird that you’re saying that people can’t take culture with them," said one dairy negotiator This is no different than if Apple workers from China start selling iPhones in the US that is actually branded Apple iPhone, completely different from a "real" iPhone or exact copy, same…
This isn't a very strong argument. The closest equivalent would be saying another Chinese brand says its designed in California but it is not Apple. Apple is a legal entity and California is a region.
Not quite, as the geographical indication not only only means that it was produced there, but also has other constraints on how it is produced, etc... So it is very much a brand, in the very same meaning, that it doesn't necessarily guarantee quality, but that the brand of the region is a means of ensuring some quality standards.
E.g. there are wines from certain regions, but they do not have the geographic indication, as they have not been produced according to the regional standards.
And going with food it is even more important so, as it is close to impossible to reproduce the climate and terroir somewhere half around the world.
That doesn't mean, that it is worse, just that it is not the same.
Take Lambrusco as an example, they do have (or had?) a bad reputation and suffer for it. It's a good motivation for regional producers to keep each others in check.
Re: The EU’s disputed system of geographical indications is taking over the planet (2017)
#13> The wording is strange, it looks like they say that it is wrong to say that it is inauthentic. But, there is no doubt, if you buy Greek feta that is manufactured in Australia in addition with different recipes and ingredients origins, it is clearly inauthentic and deceptive.
But feta without greek wouldn't be deceptive.
Re: The EU’s disputed system of geographical indications is taking over the planet (2017)
#14The result of these policies is that hard cheeses are produced in low-income countries, shipped over long distances and then relabeled “Parmasan” in the Parma region, to be shipped long distance again to its end destination.
I find this hard to believe, given how protective Italian regions are over their fayre.
Do you have a source for this?
Re: The EU’s disputed system of geographical indications is taking over the planet (2017)
#15I'm from Moldova, and Moldovan alcohol producers were hit by this. Since the Soviet times lots of things like cognac, champagne, cahors, port wine and so on were produced in Moldova often using traditional recipes.
And then association with EU happened. Ooops, can't use those names anymore, you must devise new names for what is essentially the same exact product.
Re: The EU’s disputed system of geographical indications is taking over the planet (2017)
#16The result of these policies is that hard cheeses are produced in low-income countries, shipped over long distances and then relabeled “Parmasan” in the Parma region, to be shipped long distance again to its end destination.
This is not true. The GI specifications are very strict on where and how the protected product is produced. With Parmigiano Reggiano, for example, the cows producing the milk must be within the geographic area, and even their fodder must primarily come from the region.
Re: The EU’s disputed system of geographical indications is taking over the planet (2017)
#17> The wording is strange, it looks like they say that it is wrong to say that it is inauthentic. But, there is no doubt, if you buy Greek feta that is manufactured in Australia in addition with different recipes and ingredients origins, it is clearly inauthentic and deceptive.
You can use the same recipes in Australia as in Greece. Ingredients could be tricky, but let's assume that you can make sheep milk in Australia that has the same properties as Greek sheep milk. Then why should it matter where the feta has been manufactured?
Re: The EU’s disputed system of geographical indications is taking over the planet (2017)
#18> To some, the very idea of signing away their heritage still rankles, however. "The Old World supplied the immigrants. It seems to be very weird that you’re saying that people can’t take culture with them," said one dairy negotiator This is no different than if Apple workers from China start selling iPhones in the US that is actually branded Apple iPhone, completely different from a "real" iPhone or exact copy, same…
As a customer, why should I care if I get an iPhone or an exact, functionally identical, copy?
Re: The EU’s disputed system of geographical indications is taking over the planet (2017)
#19> To some, the very idea of signing away their heritage still rankles, however. "The Old World supplied the immigrants. It seems to be very weird that you’re saying that people can’t take culture with them," said one dairy negotiator This is no different than if Apple workers from China start selling iPhones in the US that is actually branded Apple iPhone, completely different from a "real" iPhone or exact copy, same…
> This is no different than if Apple workers from China start selling iPhones in the US that is actually branded Apple iPhone, completely different from a "real" iPhone or exact copy, same thing.
I think it's more like them selling fake Apple iphones in some third country. Prior to the trade agreement fight, presumably each country could already enforce its own preferred approach domestically.
And in the US, trademarks can't be protected once they become common use for a certain type of product. Most Americans probably don't even know Champagne is a place name and not a type of bubbly wine. Many common words like "escalator" were once a company brand (some American elevator company). They lost control of the name and now it is used worldwide.
Personally I don't have a problem with protecting the locality names, though, even if it means renaming some products. I think it is worthwhile.
Re: The EU’s disputed system of geographical indications is taking over the planet (2017)
#20> The wording is strange, it looks like they say that it is wrong to say that it is inauthentic. But, there is no doubt, if you buy Greek feta that is manufactured in Australia in addition with different recipes and ingredients origins, it is clearly inauthentic and deceptive.
But the thing is, what if you produce feta with the exact same ingredients and recipe in Australia? The customer gets the exact same thing, only made somewhere else.
I'm all for quality standards, so that customers can now exactly what they get. But be able to use a name based on the location where something is produced, that doesn't protect the customer at all. It only protects a selected set of producers.