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14 June 2016 - Lefteris Christoforou – [E-004833-16] - Subject: Defending protected designations of origin:
It is being reported that, in
talks with the EU regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
(TTIP), the US is consistently refusing to countenance the inclusion in the
agreement of protected designations of origin (PDOs) recognised on the European
market.
However, their exclusion from
the agreement would have a disastrous impact on European product quality and
drive thousands of producers out of business, leaving European markets to be
flooded with cheap and inferior US substitutes. The consequences for European
consumers could be disastrous and irremediable.
For example, dairy products
such as feta, halloumi and parmesan would be unable to compete and forced out
of the market. At the same time, many other European product categories would
also suffer huge losses.
The EU therefore has a
fundamental duty to defend European protected designations of origin as an
integral part of its policy making.
In view of this:
— Can the Commission say what
action it intends to take in dealing with this issue?
— Can it give its assurance
that PDO products will not be adversely affected by the TTIP agreement?
Answer
given by Mr Hogan on behalf of the Commission (8
August 2016):
«The Commission confirms that its objective is to provide
for enhanced protection and recognition of EU Geographical Indications (GIs) in
the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
For further details, the Commission would refer the
Honourable Member to its answers to questions P-002810/2016[1] and E-000422/2015[2].».
[1] «The Commission is aware of the
economic impact resulting from the lack of appropriate protection experienced
in the U.S. market by an important number of EU quality products bearing the
PDO/PGI [Protected Designation of Origin/Protected Geographical Indication]
protection in the EU territory and is therefore pursuing an ambitious outcome
for EU geographical indications within the framework of the ongoing
negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with
the U.S. In order to achieve this objective, the EU is pragmatically but firmly
negotiating rules that would guarantee an appropriate level of protection and
an appropriate enforcement of that protection for a selection of most
significant EU geographical indications in terms of EU commercial interests in
the US market. The list of the selected EU geographical indications has been
published on the TTIP TRADE website [http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2016/march/tradoc_154386.GIPaperAnnex1%20FINAL_REV.pdf].
The list of selected names has been established in 2013 by the Commission, in
close coordination with Member States, on the basis of objective criteria such
as the economic relevance of these names in the U.S marketplace. Some of the
names mentioned by the Honourable Members (‘Arancia rossa di
Sicilia’,"Cappero di Pantelleria, ‘Pecorino Romano’, ‘Pecorino Toscano’,
‘Pomodoro di Pachino’ and ‘Prosciutto Toscano’) are indeed included in the
list, while others did not meet the criteria set above. The Commission signals
that one of its objectives in these negotiations is to secure in the agreement
rules that would allow the initial list of geographical indications to be
expanded with the consensus of the Parties.»
[2] «There are currently almost 3 300
products bearing a protected designation of origins (PDO) or a protected
geographical indication (PGI) in the EU. While it is difficult to assess the
total number of jobs directly and indirectly dependent on PDO/PGIs, the
Commission can provide examples of jobs directly involved in the production of
some well-known EU specialities, based on data from GI holders' sources. Around
50,000 jobs are involved in the production of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, about
10 000 jobs for Gorgonzola cheese, and over 10 000 jobs for Bayerisches Bier.
These figures do not take into account the number of jobs indirectly related to
those names, e.g. involved in distribution and/or tourism in the areas of
production.CETA ensures for a short list of 145 prominent European GIs a level
of protection comparable to the protection in the EU. CETA will allow
additional GIs to be added in the future. As regards the U.S., the Commission
is aware of the economic impact resulting from the lack of protection
experienced in this market by a number of PDO/PGI. The Commission, in the
ongoing TTIP negotiations and in line with the Council negotiating directives,
is looking for rules guaranteeing an appropriate level of protection and
enforcement of that protection for a selection of EU GIs.In the context of the
FTA with the EU, Singapore accepted to adopt a GI legislation and to introduce
a GI register providing for high level of protection. This register will
concern a first list of EU names, subject to national examination process, but
will then be opened to any other EU GI. The examples above show that trade
agreements can be powerful tools to enhance the protection of EU GIs in third
countries and do not lower GI protection in the EU.».
