WTO rules against EU in food and drink name dispute News
WTO rules against EU in food and drink name dispute

[JURIST] The World Trade Organization has entered an interim verdict against an EU effort to prevent food manufacturers from using European regional names – such as Champagne and Parma – to market copycat versions of more than 600 wines, cheeses, meats, and other food products that originated in Europe. Unlike trademarks, EU designations indefinitely protect food and drink names associated with a region of origin. The WTO ruling is not an absolute loss for the EU; the US and the EU can both comment on the decision within the next few months, before the ruling – the details of which are currently confidential – is published. At that point either side can appeal, a process that may take three months or more. Bloomberg reports that the WTO found EU designation rules to be discriminatory because non-European producers cannot register their products in the EU, which may mean that compromise on that point could influence the WTO's final ruling. BBC News has more, including background on the dispute.

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