EU demands before WTO about descriptors of origin

The EU has demanded a global trade agreement that protects at least 41 food and drink names (eg, Port, Parmesan, Roquefort, Chianti and Champagne). The US asserts that most of the names have passed into everyday usage (ie, become generic). A confidential interim report was issued by a WTO dispute panel last week (Nov. 2004). The WTO had asked the EU to clarify whether products from outside the EU could be registered in Europe's geographic indicator system.

[Trenton Times, C8 (Nov. 27, 2004)]