ORGANISATION MONDIALE  
DU COMMERCE  IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
25 juin 2004 
 
 (04-2746) 
Conseil des aspects des droits de propriété 
intellectuelle qui touchent au commerce Original:   anglais 
 
 
 
PRINCIPALES LOIS ET RÉGLEMENTATIONS CONSACRÉES À LA 
PROPRIÉTÉ INTELLECTUELLE NOTIFIÉES AU TITRE 
DE L'ARTICLE 63:2 DE L'ACCORD 
 
RÉPUBLIQUE TCHÈQUE 
   La communication ci-après, datée du 27 août 2002, est distribuée à la demande de la délégation de la République tchèque. 
 
_______________ 
 
  Conformément à l'article 63:2 de l'Accord sur les aspects des droits de propriété intellectuelle 
qui touchent au commerce et aux lignes directrice s pertinentes pour les notifications, la République 
tchèque notifie ci-après une nouvelle Loi n° 452/2001  Coll., du 29 novembre 2001, sur la protection 
des désignations d'origine et des indications géographi ques et sur l'amendement de la Loi relative à la 
protection des consommateurs, ainsi que le Décret  du Ministère de l'agriculture n° 243/2002 Coll., 
portant mise en application de la Loi n° 452/2001 Coll.
1 
 
 La nouvelle Loi, qui est entrée en vigueur le 1er avril 2002, abroge la Loi de 1973 sur la 
protection des appellations d'origine (Loi n° 159/1973 Coll.), et le nouveau Décret, qui est entré en vigueur le 1
er juillet 2002, abroge le Décret n° 160/197 3 Coll., sur les procédures concernant les 
appellations d'origine des produits, tels que ces in struments avaient été notifiés par la République 
tchèque dans le document IP/N/1/CZE/G/1.  
 La nouvelle Loi est pleinement en conformité avec les obligations in ternationales de la 
République tchèque découlant des accords internationa ux pertinents, c'est-à-dire tout particulièrement 
la Convention de Paris pour la pr otection de la propriété industr ielle, l'Arrangement de Madrid 
concernant la répression des indications de pr ovenance fausses ou fallacieuses sur les produits, 
l'Arrangement de Lisbonne concernant la protection des appellations d'origine et leur enregistrement 
international et l'Accord sur les ADPIC. 
  En outre, à la différence de la précédente Lo i n° 159/1973 Coll., la nouvelle Loi a permis 
d'harmoniser la législation nationa le tchèque sur la protection des indications géographiques avec la 
législation des Communautés européennes. 
 
 Comme il ressort du libellé de la Loi, l'objet de la protection est la  "désignation d'origine" 
ainsi que l'"indication géographique".  L'une et l'autre expressions sont  définies au regard de la Loi 
dans la section 2 et sont conformes à l'article 22 de l'Accord sur les ADPIC.  En vertu de cette Loi, les 
indications géographiques sont de venues – outre des désignations d'origine – une nouvelle catégorie 
                                                     
 
1 En anglais seulement.  Les textes dans la langue originale peuvent être consultés par les délégations 
intéressées au Secrétariat de l'OMC. IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
Page 2  
 
 bénéficiant au regard du droit public de la protec tion conférée par l'Office de la propriété industrielle 
(ci-après dénommé l'"Office").  Les désignations d'origine et les indications géographiques sont 
protégées de la même manière.  En vertu de la secti on 3 de la Loi, les désignations d'origine et les 
indications géographiques sont inscrites sur le regist re des désignations d'origine et des indications 
géographiques (ci-après dénommé le "registre") tenu par l'Office. 
 
 Les désignations d'origine et les indications  géographiques bénéficieront d'une protection 
accrue au sens de l'article 23:1 de l'Accord sur les ADPIC.  En vertu du paragraphe 1 b) de la 
section 23, les indications enregistrées seront pr otégées contre tout emploi abusif, imitation ou 
suggestion, même si la véritable origine du produit est indiquée ou si l'indication faisant l'objet de la 
protection est traduite ou accompagnée d'expressions  telles que "genre", "type", "méthode", "style", 
"imité" ou d'expressions analogues.   L'enregistrement des désignations d'origine et  des indications géographiques en application de 
la Loi se fait par le dépôt d'une demande auprès de l'Office.  Si la désignation d'origine ou l'indication 
géographique doit être enregistrée pour des produits agricoles ou des produits alimentaires, dont il est 
déterminé qu'ils sont destinés à la nutrition humaine , et pour des produits agricoles, dont il est 
déterminé qu'ils ne sont pas destinés à la nutritio n humaine, dont les listes sont établies par le 
Ministère de l'agriculture en vertu du Décret n°  243/2002 Coll., la demande  doit être assortie d'une 
spécification (section 6), qui en stipulera la qualité  et les caractéristiques qui sont imputables à 
l'environnement géographique. 
 
 Conformément au paragraphe 4 de l'article 22 de l'Accord sur les ADPIC, la Loi stipule 
qu'une désignation d'origine ou une indication géogr aphique qui, en dépit de son exactitude, pourrait 
donner à penser à tort que les produits sont originair es d'un autre territoire, ne sera pas inscrite sur le 
registre (section 4, paragraphe 1).  En outre, la  Loi garantit – conformément au paragraphe 3 de 
l'article 23 de l'Accord sur les ADPIC – que les indications d'homonymie pour les vins (section 4, 
paragraphe 2) sont également protégées pour autant  que des conditions déterminées soient réunies.  
Conformément à l'article 16 de l'Accord sur l es ADPIC, une indication qui est identique à une 
désignation d'origine, à une indication géographi que, à une marque de fabrique ou de commerce 
notoirement connue ou à une marque de fabrique ou de commerce enregistrée bénéficiant déjà d'une 
protection, ou une indication qui est identique au nom d'une variété végétale  ou d'une race animale, 
qui pourrait donner lieu à des présomptions erronées quant à la véritable origine des produits du fait 
de cette coïncidence, ne peut être enregistrée en tant que désignation d'origine ou en tant qu'indication 
géographique pour des produits iden tiques (section 4, paragraphe 4). 
  La protection relative à la désignation d'origin e ou à l'indication géographique s'appliquera à 
compter du jour d'inscription sur le registre et la durée de cette protection est illimitée.  Les droits 
conférés par l'enregistrement de la désignation d'or igine et de l'indication géographique sont énoncés 
au chapitre VIII (section 23).   Le chapitre VII (sections 18 à 22) de la Loi c ontient des dispositions qui permettront d'obtenir 
la protection d'indications géographiques et de d ésignations d'origine dans l'Union européenne pour 
des produits agricoles et des produits alimentaires, conformément à la réglem entation de l'UE.  Ces 
dispositions prendront effet le jour de l'entrée en vigueur du Traité d'adhésion de la République 
tchèque à l'Union européenne (section 29).   La Loi renforce en outre les moyens de faire respecter les droits da ns ce domaine par le 
recours à des procédures civiles.  En particulier, la  section 24 de la Loi donne effet aux articles 46 et 
47 de l'Accord sur les ADPIC.  En vertu du paragr aphe 3 de la section 24, une personne détenant des 
droits au titre d'une désignation d'origine enregistrée, ou selon le cas, au titre d'une indication géographique, peut demander au tribunal d'ordonne r qu'une personne qui met en danger ces droits ou 
y porte atteinte détruise les marchandises dont la mise en circulation sur le marché risque de mettre en  IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
 Page 3 
 
 
 danger ou a déjà mis en danger les droits protégés pa r la Loi encore risque d'y porter atteinte ou y a 
déjà porté atteinte.  Le tribunal n' ordonnera pas la destruction si le s marchandises considérées ne sont 
pas en possession de la personne contre laquelle la demande est ad ressée ou si la mise en danger des 
droits ou l'atteinte aux droits pourrait être éliminée d'une autre manière et que la destruction constitue 
une mesure inadéquate en vue de remédier à cette menace ou à cette atteinte aux droits. 
 
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 IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
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 ACT No. 452 
of 29 November 2001 
on the Protection of Designations of Origin and Geographical Indications  
 and on the Amendment to the Act on the Consumer Protection 
 
  
PART ONE 
PROTECTION OF DESIGNATIONS OF ORIGIN AND GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS  
 
CHAPTER I 
BASIC PROVISIONS 
  
Section 1 
 
Subject matter of regulation 
  
       The Act regulates the conditions, under wh ich it is possible to obtain protection relating to 
designation of origin or, as appr opriate, geographical indication, as well as legal effects of this 
protection. 
 
Section 2 
 
Definition of terms 
       For the purposes of this Act: 
a) designation of origin means the name of a regi on, a specific place or country (hereinafter referred 
to as “territory”) used for identification of the goods originating from this territory provided that 
quality or characteristics of this goods are exclusively or predominan tly given by special geographical 
environment with its characteristic natural and human factors and provided that production, 
processing and preparation of such goods takes pla ce within the defined territory; designation of 
origin for agricultural products or foodstuffs sh all also mean traditional geographical or non-
geographical indications for the goods originating from the defined territory if such goods fulfils other 
conditions according to this provision; 
b) geographical indication means the name of a territory used for identification of the goods 
originating from this territory provided that this goods has certain quality, renown or other 
characteristics which are attributable to this ge ographical origin and provided that production or 
processing and/or preparation of such goods  takes place within the defined territory; 
c) goods means any movable thing which was produced , exploited or otherwise obtained, regardless 
the level of its processing, and is determined to be offered to consumers; services shall also be 
deemed as the goods according to this act; 
d) generic name of a type of goods shall mean th e indication, which became a usual name for such 
goods, although it relates to the territory where this goods was originally produced or put in the 
market. 
  IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
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 Section 3 
 Designations of origin and geographical indications  are entered in the register of designations 
of origin and geographical indications (hereinafter referred to as "register") kept by the Industrial 
Property Office (hereinafter referred to as "Office"). 
 
 
Section 4 
 
Exclusions from registration 
 
(1) An indication which, in spite of the fact that its literal reading truthfully identifies the territory 
from which the goods originates, is capable to e voke a false assumption that the goods originates from 
another territory, shall not be entered in the regist er either as designation of origin or as geographical 
indication.  
(2) If the applicant for registration of designation of origin or geographical indication for wines is able 
to ensure such manner of utilization of these indi cations which is not capable to evoke a false 
assumption about the real origin of goods, two or more designations of origin or geographical 
indications containing identically written or id entically reading (homonymous) names of places may 
be entered in the register provided that the princi ple of equal position of producers in the market is 
complied with. 
(3) The general name of goods may not be entered in  the register as a designation of origin or as a 
geographical indication, regardless the fact whethe r the goods originates from such a defined territory. 
(4) Subject to the exception stated in paragraph 2,  an indication which is identical with already 
protected designation of origin, geographical in dication, well-known trademark or registered 
trademark, or an indication which is identical with  the name of a plant variety or an animal breed, 
which could lead to deceptive assumptions about th e true origin of goods as a result of this 
coincidence, may not be registered as designation of  origin or as geographical indication for identical 
goods. 
 
CHAPTER II 
DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN 
 
Section 5 
Application for registration relating to designation of origin 
 
(1) An application for registration relating to designa tion of origin may be filed with the Office by the 
association1) of producers or processors (hereinafter re ferred to as “association”) for goods produced 
or processed or prepared in the territory and und er conditions defined in Section 2 letter a). An 
individual natural person or a legal entity may appl y for registration relating to designation or origin 
provided that at the time of filing of the appli cation it is the only person that produces, processes and 
prepares the goods in the territory and under conditions defined in Section 2 letter a). 
                                                      
1) For example Section 69 of the Act No. 455/1991 Coll., on Small Businesses, as amended by later 
regulations, the Act No. 83/1990 Coll., on Association of Citizens, as amended by later regulations, Section 20f 
and following and Section 829 and following of the Act No. 40/1964 Coll., Civil Code, as amended by later 
regulations. 
 IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
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 (2) If the applicant according to paragraph 1 is an association having no legal personality, it must 
empower one of members of the association to take part in proceedings according to this act. 
(3) The application for registration relating to d esignation of origin (hereinafter referred to as 
“application”) filed by the applicant according to paragraph 1 shall contain the following data 
a) Wording of the designation of origin; 
b) Name or, as appropriate, business name and seat, or  first name, surname and permanent address 
of the applicant or, as appropriate, of his representative; 
c) Geographical definition of the territory where production, processing and preparation of goods 
takes place; 
d) Specification of the place of business where the go ods provided with designation of origin is 
produced, processed and prepared at the locality  whose geographical name creates a part of 
designation of origin; 
e) List of goods to which designation of origin should relate; 
f) Description of characteristics or qualitative features of goods, which are given by special 
geographical environment. 
(4) The application shall be accompanied by the abstract from files kept by a body of state 
administration
2) competent according to the territory where production, processing and preparation of 
goods takes place, if it is certified that the place of business of the applicant according to paragraph 3 
letter d) is situated in given territory or that th e goods according to paragraph 3 letter f) is produced or 
processed by the applicant. 
(5) If the designation of origin is to be register ed for agricultural products or foodstuffs, which are 
determined for human nutrition, and agricultural pr oducts not determined fo r human nutrition, whose 
lists are set down by the Ministry of Agriculture by  means of a decree (hereinafter referred to as 
"agricultural products and foodstu ffs"), the application must be supported by specification according 
to Section 6, which shall stipulate its characte ristics and define specialities of geographical 
environment. 
(6) Another producer or, as appropriate, processor w ho fulfils conditions stipulated by the law for 
registration of designations of origin and conditions  of membership in association, which shall be 
neither discriminatory nor in conflict with legally binding rules of economic competition, shall have 
the right to become a member of association. The asso ciation shall be obliged to issue a certificate of 
membership to its members upon request.  
(7) The applicant for registration of designation of  origin, who has neither the permanent address nor 
the seat in the Czech Republic, and who has the de signation of origin protected according to the law 
valid in the country of origin of the goods, ma y replace the document required according to paragraph 
4 by a certificate on protection relating to designati on of origin according to the law valid in this 
country. 
Section 6 
Specification 
Specification must contain 
a) name of agricultural product or foodstuff, including the wording of designation of origin; 
                                                      
2) For example Section 60 of the Act No. 455/1991 Coll., Section 12c of the Act No. 105/1990 Coll., on 
Private Business Activities of Citizens, as amended by later regulations, the Act No. 63/1986 Coll., on the 
Czech Agricultural and Food Inspectio n, as amended by later regulations. 
  IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
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 b) description of agricultural product or foodstuff, including raw-material, if any, and description of 
basic physical, chemical, microbiological and/or  organoleptic qualities of agricultural product or foodstuff; c) geographical definition of territory or, if need be, the data which give the evidence about fulfilment 
of requirement according to Section 2 letter a) sentence after semicolon; 
d) data demonstrating that agricultural product or  foodstuff originate from the defined territory; 
e) description of a method used for acquisition of agricultural product or foodstuff or, if need be, 
description of trustworthy and unchangeab le local methods of their acquisition; 
f) data confirming the connection between quality, char acteristics or features of agricultural product 
of foodstuff and geographical origin with in the meaning of Section 2 letter a). 
 
Section 7 
Proceedings relating to application 
 (1) The Office shall examine whether designation of or igin stated in the application fulfils conditions 
for registration and whether the application has proprieties according to Section 5. 
(2) Unless the application has all proprieties accord ing to Section 5, the Office shall invite the 
applicant to complete the application, determine a reasonable period of time, which shall not be less 
than two months, and give him a notice that otherwise the proceedings will be suspended. 
(3) If the designation of origin is excluded from registration according to Section 4 or if the  
designation of origin does not fulfil conditions for registration set down by this law, the application shall be refused by the Office.  
(4) If the application for registration relating to desi gnation of origin contains all necessary proprieties 
and if the application is not refused according to pa ragraph 3, the Office shall enter the designation of 
origin in the register and announce the registration in  the Bulletin issued by the Office (hereinafter 
referred to as “Bulletin”). A certificate on regist ration shall be issued to the applicant. 
(5) If the designation of origin is to be entered in the register for agricultural product or foodstuff, the 
Office may in reasoned cases invite the applicant to submit the eviden ce in form of a judgement made 
by inspection body that agricultural product or foods tuff fulfil proprieties of specification stipulated 
according to Section 6. The Office shall prescribe to the applicant a reasonable period of time for 
submission of a judgement made by inspection body a nd give him a notice that in case of failure to 
submit the judgement of inspection body in time, the proceedings will be suspended. 
 
CHAPTER III 
REGISTRATION RELATING TO DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN 
 
Section 8 
Effects of registration relating to designation of origin 
 
(1) Protection relating to designation of origin shall arise on the day of entering in the register. The period of protection relating to d esignation of origin is unlimited. 
(2) Each person who produces, processes and prepares the goods of relevant quality or characteristics 
within the defined territory shall be entitled to use the registered designation of origin, especially to 
place it on the goods to which such designation of orig in relates; in case of agricultural products or 
foodstuffs stated in the decree acco rding to Section 26, the condition for utilization of designation of IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
Page 8  
 
 origin on the goods originating from the defined te rritory is also the comp liance with specification 
according to Section 6. 
(3) No licence may be granted for th e registered designation of origin. 
(4) The registered designation of origin may not be provided as a guarantee.  
Section 9 
Registration of amendments relating to specification 
 The applicant for registration relating to designation of origin may ask the Office for amendments to 
specification, especially with regard to developmen ts in area of scientific and technical knowledge or 
as a result of a new definition of territory.  
 
Section 10 
 Inspection of specification 
(1) Bodies competent to perform inspection of speci fication according to this Act shall be, based on 
their scope of authority, the Czech agricultural and food inspection established according to special 
legal regulation3). 
(2) Inspection body according to paragraph 1 shall issue obligatory judgements or opinions and/or 
certificates important for entering the designation of origin in the register. The applicant or the 
proposer, as the case may be, shall be obliged to submit the judgement of inspection body together 
with the application for amendments to specificati on of agricultural product or foodstuff, the proposal 
for cancellation of registration relating to designati on of origin of agricultural product or foodstuff 
(Section 11) or, as appropriate, the application for registration relating to designation of origin of 
agricultural product or foodstuff.  
(3) Everybody may request the inspection body accordi ng to paragraph 1 for issuance of an obligatory 
judgement or opinion and/or certificate important for exercise or defence of his right. Inspection body shall be obliged to issue the required judgement or opinion and/or certificate without unreasonable 
delay.  
(4) If during performance of inspection activities the in spection body discovers any shortages, it shall 
be entitled to require their elimina tion and to take or propose measur es for their elimination, including 
inspection focused on fulfilment of measures lead ing to elimination of discovered shortages. 
(5) Results of inspection performed by a foreign in spection body shall be taken into account within 
proceedings before the Office, based on the intern ational convention or based on mutuality. President 
of the Office may decide in individual case that th e judgement of the foreign inspection body shall be 
taken into consideration even if conditions according to the fi rst sentence are not fulfilled. 
 
Section 11 
Cancellation of registration rela ting to designation of origin 
(1) The Office shall cancel the registration relating to  designation of origin, if it discovers based on 
proposal from the person concerned of from the re levant inspection body and/or based on its own 
initiative, that 
                                                      
3) Act No. 63/1986 Coll., on Czech agricultural and food inspection, as amended by later regulations.  IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
 Page 9 
 
 
 a) designation of origin was registered although it do es not fulfil conditions stipulated by this law; in 
this case the designation of origin shall be  regarded as if it was not registered; 
b) conditions stipulated for registration of designation of origin ceased to exist; 
c) based on judgement of the relevant inspection bod y, the product for which the designation of origin 
is registered does not fulfil requirements determin ed by specification for agricultural product or 
foodstuff and these requirements were not fulfilled additionally within the period prescribed by the 
inspection body. 
(2) In case according to paragraph 1 letter c), regi stration relating to designation of origin cannot be 
cancelled, if the goods complying with conditions s tipulated by this law appears in the market. 
(3) In the decision based on reasons stated in paragr aph 1 letter b) or c), the Office shall state the day 
to which the registration relating to designation of origin is cancelled. 
(4) Cancellation of registration relating to designation of origin shall be entered by the Office in the 
register and announced in the Bulletin.  
 
CHAPTER IV 
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS  
 
Section 12 
Geographical indication 
Provisions relating to designation of origin shall apply similarly to proprieties of application for 
registration of geographical indication, proceedi ngs relating to application for registration of 
geographical indication, registration of amendments  relating to registered geographical indication, 
contents and inspection of specification for agricultu ral product or foodstuff, effects of registration of 
geographical indication, amendments to registration of geographical indication and its cancellation.   
 
CHAPTER V 
PROVISIONS RELATING TO PROCEEDINGS 
 
Section 13 
Administrative proceedings 
 (1) Unless otherwise stipulated by this Act, pro ceedings according to this Act shall be governed by 
administrative rules4), except for provisions about the term for decision. 
 (2) The Office shall decide about suspension of pro ceedings if it is unable to continue in proceedings 
due to incompleteness or defects of filing; before  issuing the decision on suspension of proceedings, 
the person who made request for commencement of proceedings must be informed about it. The 
Office shall suspend proceedings even upon request  of a person who filed the proposal for its 
commencement.  
 
Section 14 
  In case of proceedings in application for regi stration relating to designation of origin or, as 
appropriate, geographical indication,  persons who have neither their permanent address nor their seat IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
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 in the territory of the Czech Republic must be  represented by attorney or patent representative 
according to special legal regulations
5). 
 
Section 15 
Register and Bulletin 
(1) The register is open to public and everybody has the right to look inside it. 
(2) The Office shall enter in the register the followi ng decisive data relating to designation of origin 
and geographical indication: 
a) registration number of the designation of origin  or, as appropriate, geogra phical indication and the 
date of entering in the register, 
b) wording of the designation of origin or, as appropriate, geographical indication, 
c) date of filing of the application for regist ration of designation of origin or, as appropriate, 
geographical indication, 
d) geographical definition of territory where produ ction or processing and/or  preparation of goods 
takes place, 
e) name or business name and seat, if any, or first name, surname and permanent address of the 
applicant or his representative, if any, 
f) address of the place of business, which produces or processes and/or prepares the goods provided 
with designation of origin or, as appropriate, geographical indication at the locality whose 
geographical name creates the designation of origin or geographical indication, 
g) goods, to which designation of origin or, as appr opriate, geographical indication relates, including 
definition of quality and features characteristic fo r the goods, and whether the goods is agricultural 
product or foodstuff stated in the decree according to Section 26, its specification, including its 
amendments, if any, 
h) cancellations of registration relating to desi gnation of origin or, as appropriate, geographical 
indication. 
(3) Other data necessary for designation of origin and for geographical indication may also be entered 
in the register. 
(4) In the Bulletin, the Office announces the registra tion relating to designation of origin or, as 
appropriate, geographical indication,  its cancellation and other importa nt facts relating to designation 
of origin or, as appropriate , geographical indication.  
(5) After verification of submitted data, amendments that occurred after registration of designation of 
origin or, as appropriate, geographical indication, shall be entered in the register upon request. 
(6) Upon request, the Office shall i ssue an extract from register to  any person upon request. Abstract 
from register shall contain the data valid as of the day on which such extract from register was issued. 
 
  
 
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 CHAPTER VI 
RELATIONS TOWARDS FOREIGN COUNTRIES 
 
Section 16 
(1) Persons having their permanent address or seat in  the Czech Republic may apply for international 
registration relating to designation of origin  according to the international convention6) through the 
Office. 
(2) The applicant for international registration relating to designation of  origin shall be obliged to pay 
fees for operations according to paragraph 1 set down  by the international convention; the amount of 
fees set down by the international convention sh all be announced by the Office in the Bulletin. 
 
Section 17 
(1) International registration relati ng to designation of origin with the application for protection in the 
Czech Republic shall have the same effects as the re gistration relating to designation of origin kept by 
the Office. 
(2) If the protection relating to internationally regi stered designation of origin was refused for the 
territory of the Czech Republic, it shall be regard ed as if it was not registered within the Czech 
Republic.  
 
CHAPTER VII 
PROTECTION RELATING TO DESIGNATIO NS OF ORIGIN AND GEOGRAPHICAL 
INDICATIONS ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, ON 
PROTECTION OF GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS AND DESIGNATIONS OF ORIGIN FOR 
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND FOODSTUFFS 
 
Section 18 
Application for protection 
 
(1) An application for protection relating to designati ons of origin and geographical indications in the 
European Union7), which relate to agricultural products and foodstuffs produced or processed and/or 
prepared in the territory situat ed within the Czech Republic, shall be filed with the Office. 
(2) The application may be filed only by a person st ated in Section 5 having the right for designation 
of origin or, as appropria te, geographical indication. 
(3) Unless the application contains proprieties acco rding to this Act and proprieties required by the 
regulation, the Office shall invite the applicant to eliminate the shortages within two months.  
                                                      
6) Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration of 
31 October 1958, revised in Stockholm  on 14 July 1967, published under No. 67/1975 Coll. as amended by the 
decree No. 79/1985 Coll.  
7) Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2081/92 of 14 July 1992, on the protection of geographical 
indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs. 
8) Articles 211 to 219 of the Treaty establishing the European Community. IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
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 (4) The Office shall cede the application to the Commission
8), including all documents supporting its 
findings, within two months from the day when the proper application was delivered to the Office. 
The Office shall inform the applicant about this fact. 
(5) The Office shall inform the applicant about  formal findings of the Commission, that the 
application contains all data, within one month from the day on which these findings are received. 
 
Section 19 
Amendments to specification 
Provisions of Section 18 shall similarly apply to f iling, verification and cession of the application for 
amendments to specification. 
 
Section 20 
Objections 
(1) Persons having their permanent address or seat in the territory of the Czech Republic may file duly 
justified objections against the registration of design ations of origin and ge ographical indications in 
the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications kept by the Commission or, as appropriate, objections agai nst amendments to specification relating to 
identification of product or, as appr opriate, geographical indication.  
(2) Objections shall be submitted not later than  within five months from the day on which the 
Commission published the name and address of app licant, the name of product, main items of 
application and references to na tional legal regulations relating to  production or processing and/or 
preparation of products, including reasons for c onclusion that the name fulfils conditions of 
protection, in the Official Bulletin of European Communities.  
(3) If the submitted objections are duly justified, th e Office shall cede them for further proceedings. 
(4) The Office shall refuse to cede objections to th e Commission, if they are filed after the term 
stipulated in paragraph 2; the person who submitte d objections must be informed about this fact. 
 
Section 21 
(1) If the Commission invites the parties concerned to  reach an agreement about objections against the 
registration of designation of origin or, as appropriate , geographical indication in the register kept by 
the Commission, the Office in cooperation with a relevant body of state administration shall be 
competent to lead discussions on behalf of the C zech Republic. Before conclusion of agreement, the 
Office shall be obliged to request the standpoint of  a person who filed an application for protection 
relating to designation of origin or, as appropriate, geographical indication according to Section 18, or 
of a person who submitted objections against registration of such indication according to Section 20. 
(2) The Office shall be entitled to require that a person who filed an application according to Section 
18, or a person who filed objections according to Se ction 20, should provide at his own expense the 
judgement or opinion and/or certificate from the re levant inspection body, which are important for 
enforcement of objections against registration of d esignation of origin or, as appropriate, geographical 
indication in the register kept by the Commission or for defence against such objections.  
(3) The Office shall inform the Commission about th e standpoint of the Czech Republic as regards the 
results of discussions relating to objections. 
(4) The Office shall inform the applicant or to a person who submitted objections according to Section 
20, as the case may be, about the decision made by the Commission as regards the objections.  IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
 Page 13 
 
 
 Section 22 
(1) Registration of designation of origin or geogr aphical indication in the register of protected 
designations of origin and protected geographical indications kept by the Commission shall have the 
same effects in the Czech Republic as registration of  such indications in the register kept by the 
Office. 
(2) If the Commission refuses to enter designation of or igin or geographical indication in the register 
of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications, the entry in the register 
kept by the Office shall lose its effect too. 
(3) Inspection bodies, which control compliance with specification in case of agricultural products or 
foodstuffs whose designation or origin or, as approp riate, geographical indication is entered in the 
register kept by the Office, shall be obliged to  perform activities according to Section 10 also in 
relation to agricultural products or foodstuffs orig inating from the territory situated in the Czech 
Republic, whose designation of origin or, as appropri ate, geographical indication is entered in the 
register of protected designations of origin an d protected geographical indications kept by the 
Commission.  
CHAPTER VIII 
RIGHTS FROM REGISTRATION OF DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN AND GEOGRAPHICAL 
INDICATION 
Section 23 
(1) Registered indications are protected against a) any direct or indirect business utilization of registered indication for the goods to which the 
registration does not relate, if such goods is co mparable with the goods registered under this 
indication or if utilization of this indication ta kes advantage of a good reputation of protected  
b) any misuse, imitation or suggestion, even if the real origin of goods is stated or the indication; 
protected indication is translated or accompanied  by terms like “sort”, “type”, “method”, “style”, 
“imitated” or by similar terms; 
c) any other false or deceptive data about geograph ical origin, nature or basic qualities of the goods 
stated on inward or outward packing, promotion materials or documents relating to respective goods, 
as well as against the use of transportation packi ng capable to evoke a false impression about its 
origin; d) all other conduct which could lead to decep tive assumptions about real origin of goods. 
(2) The registered indication may not become a ge neric indication of goods; if the registered 
indication itself includes also the name of goods, which is considered to be generic, the use of this 
generic name on the respective goods is not in  conflict with paragraph 1 letter a) or b). 
 
Section 24 
Endangerment or infringement of rights 
(1) Everybody may claim with the relevant court th at it should be prohibited to use the registered 
indication for comparable goods which does not fulfil conditions for utilization of designation of 
origin or geographical indication and that the go ods identified in a manner which endangers or 
infringes the rights arising from registered designation of origin or, as appropriate, geographical indication, should be withdrawn from the market. 
(2) A person having rights to registered desi gnation of origin of, as appropriate, geographical 
indication, shall have the right, towards everybody who puts or intends to put comparable goods in the 
market, for information about origin of the goods, on which the protected designation of origin or IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
Page 14  
 
 geographical indication is placed; the court shall not acknowledge the right for information if it is in 
disproportion to seriousness of endangerment or infringement.  
(3) A person having rights to registered desi gnation of origin or, as appropriate, geographical 
indication, may ask the court to order that a pe rson endangering or infringing these rights should 
destroy the goods whose release in  the market could endanger or in fringe, or has already endangered 
or infringed, the rights protected by this law. The c ourt shall not order destruction if such goods is not 
in ownership of the person against whom the proposal is directed or  if endangerment or infringement 
of rights could be eliminated in another way and destruction would be inadequate to this 
endangerment or infringement.  
(4) If the infringement of rights arising from registered designation of origin or, as appropriate, 
geographical indication caused damage, the damaged party shall be entitled to its compensation. If 
such infringement caused other than property relate d detriment, the damaged party shall be entitled to 
a reasonable satisfaction, which may consist in monetary fulfilment.  A person having rights for 
registered designation of origin or, as appropriate , geographical indication, may ask for release of 
unreasonable enrichment.  
 
CHAPTER IX 
TEMPORARY PROVISIONS, PROVISIONS OF AUTHORIZATIONS AND CANCELLATION 
 
Section 25 
Temporary provisions 
(1) Provisions of this Act shall be used, unless otherw ise stipulated in the international convention by 
which the Czech Republic is bound and which was pub lished in the collection of laws or in the 
collection of international conventions. 
(2) Products, to which the protection relating to designation of origin was granted according to 
existing regulations before entering into force of this law, shall enjoy the protection relating to 
designation of products according to this law. 
(3) Proceedings relating to applications for d esignation of origin of products which were not 
concluded before entering into force of this law, shall be concluded according to this law while the 
applicant shall be obliged, upon invitation from the O ffice and within the period stipulated by the 
latter, to put his application in conformity with requirements laid by this law on applications for 
registration relating to designation of origin. 
(4) Provisions of this law shall govern relations ar ising from designation of origin of products entered 
in the register before entering into force of this law. Origination of these relations as well as claims 
arising from them before entering into force of this  law shall be judged according to regulations valid 
at the time or their origination. 
 
Section 26 
Provisions of authorisation 
The Ministry of Agriculture shall determine, by me ans of a decree, the lists of agricultural products 
and foodstuffs where the application for registration of designation of origin must be supported by 
specification.  
 
  IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
 Page 15 
 
 
 Section 27 
Provisions of cancellation 
  The following legal regulations shall be cancelled: 
1. Act No. 159/1973 Coll., on the Protection of Appellations of Origin of Products. 2. Order of the Office for Inventions and Disc overies No. 160/1973 Coll., on the Proceedings in 
Matters relating to Appellations  of Origin of Products.  
 
PART TWO 
Amendment to the Act on the Consumer Protection 
 
Section 28 
In the Act No. 634/1992 Coll., on the Consumer Protection, as amended by the Act No. 217/1993 
Coll., the Act No. 40/1995 Coll., the Act No. 104/1995 Coll.., the Act No. 110/1997 Coll. , the Act No. 356/1999 Coll., the Act No. 64/2000 Coll., the Act No. 145/2000 Coll., and the Act No. 258/2000 
Coll., in Section 2 par. 1 letter r) at the end of th e point 3, full stop is replaced by comma, and the 
point 4 is completed, including the footnote No. 4f, to read as follows: “ 4.  product or goods, infringing the rights of a pers on entitled to protection of registered designation 
of origin or geographical indication 
4f). 
------------------------------- 
4f) Act No 452/2001 Coll., on the Protection of Designa tions of Origin and Geographical Indications 
and on the Amendment to the Act on the Consumer Protection.”. 
 
PART THREE 
ENTRY INTO FORCE 
 
Section 29 
This Act shall enter into force on 1 April 2002, excep t for provisions of Sections 18 to 22, which shall 
take effect on the day of entering into force of the convention on accession of the Czech Republic to 
the European Union.   
 
 
  IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
Page 16  
 
 243 
 
D E C R E E 
 
of the Ministry of Agriculture 
 
of 31 May 2002 
 
implementing Act No. 452/2001 Coll., on the Protection of Designations of Origin and 
Geographical Indications and on the Amendm ent to the Act on the Consumer Protection 
 
The Ministry of Agriculture stipulates in accord ance with Section 26 of Act No. 452/2001 Coll., on 
the protection of designations of origin and geograp hical indications and on the amendment to the Act 
on consumer protection (hereinafter “the Act”), with  regard to the wording of Section 5, paragraph 5 
of the Act: 
 
Section 1 
 
(1) List of agricultural products and foodstuffs intended for human nutrition, for inclusion of 
which in the Register of designations of origin  and geographical indications (hereinafter “the 
Register”) a specification shall be presented accordi ng to Section 6 of the Act, is included in Annex 
No. 1. 
 
(2) List of agricultural products not intended for human nutrition, for inclusion of which in the 
Register a specification shall be presented according to Section 6 of the Act, is included in Annex No. 
2. 
 
Section 2 
This Decree enters into force on 1 July 2002. 
 
Minister: 
Ing. Fencl in his own hand 
 
 
 
 
Annex No. 1 to Decree No. 243/2002 Coll. 
 
List of agricultural products and foodstuffs intended for human nutrition 
 
Beer 
Natural mineral waters Beverages made from plant extracts (especially ju ices, extracts, leaches and substances that are 
obtained from natural plant materials, fresh plants or dried or otherwise treated parts of plants) 
 
 
   IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
 Page 17 
 
 
 Mill products, bakery products, candy and confectionary products1).2) 
Natural gums and resins 
Meat3) 
Fish, crustaceans and molluscs3) 
Meat products and products of fish, of crustaceans or molluscs3) 
Dairy products Eggs
3) 
Intestines, bladders and stomachs of animals (other than fish), whole or pieces thereof 
Vegetables and potatoes for human nutriti on and other edible roots and tubers4) 
Fruit and dry shell fruit, peel of citrus or rind of melons 
Processed fruit, vegetables or potatoes for human nutrition or other edible parts of roots or tubers5) 
Spices, coffee, tea, fruit and herb teas with exception of mint6) 
Cereals and malt 
Oil seeds; starches; wheat gluten; inulin7) 
Plants processed industrially, intended for human nutrition (especially plants that are used for 
production of sugars, starches, plant oils and fats, plant fibres, proteins, tannins, etc.) 
Medicinal plants8) 
 
____________________ 
1) Decree No. 333/1997 Coll. that implements Section 18, letters a), d), h), i), j) and k) of Act No. 110/1997 Coll., on 
foodstuffs and tobacco products and on the amendment a nd additions to some related acts, for mill cereals 
products, pasta, bakery products and c onfectionary products and pastries as amended by Decree No. 93/2000 Coll. 
 
2) Decree No. 334/1997 Coll. that  implements Section 18, letters a), d) , j), and k) of Act No. 110/1997 Coll., on 
foodstuffs and tobacco products and on the amendment and a dditions to some related acts, for natural sweeteners, 
honey, non-chocolate confectionary, cocoa powder and mixt ure of cocoa with sugar,  chocolate and chocolate 
confectionary, as amended by Decree No. 94/2000 Coll. 
 
3) Decree No. 326/2001 Coll. that implements Section 18, letters a), d), g), h), i) and j) of Act No. 110/1997 Coll., on 
foodstuffs and tobacco products and on the amendment and ad ditions to some related acts, as amended, for meat, 
meat products, fish, other water animals and products of them , eggs and products of them. 
 
4) Decree No. 332/1997 Coll. that implements Section 18, letters a), d), h), i), j) and k) of Act No. 110/1997 Coll., on 
foodstuffs and tobacco products and on the amendment and a dditions to some related acts, for fresh fruit and fresh 
vegetables, processed fruit and processed vegetables, dry shell fruit, mushrooms,  potatoes and products of them, as 
amended by Decree No. 92/2000 Coll. 
 
5) Decree No. 332/1997 Coll.,  as amended by Decree No. 92/2000 Coll. 
Decree No. 326/1997 Coll. that  implements Section 18, letters a), d) , j) and k) of Act No. 110/1997 Coll., on 
foodstuffs and tobacco products and on the amendment and a dditions to some related acts, for frozen foodstuffs, as 
amended by Decree No. 44/2000 Coll. and Decree No. 160/2002 Coll. 
6) Decree No. 330/1997 Coll. that  implements Section 18, letters a), d) , j) and k) of Act No. 110/1997 Coll., on 
foodstuffs and tobacco products and on the amendment and additions to some related acts, for tea, coffee and 
coffee substitutes, as amended by Decree No. 91/2000 Coll. 
Decree No. 331/1997 Coll. that implements Section 18, letters a), d), h), i), j) and k) of Act No. 110/1997 Coll., on 
foodstuffs and tobacco products and on the amendment and addi tions to some related acts, for spices, edible salt, 
dehydrated products and flavouri ng agents and mustard, as amended by Decree No. 419/2000 Coll. 
7) Decree No. 329/1997 Coll. that implements Section 18, letters a), d), h), i), j) and k) of Act No. 110/1997 Coll., on 
foodstuffs and tobacco products and on the amendment and a dditions to some related acts, for starch and products 
of starch, legumes and oilseed, as amended by Decree No. 418/2000 Coll. 
 
8) Act No. 79/1997 Coll., on medicinal products and on the amendment and additions to some related acts, as 
amended by Acts No. 149/2000 Coll., No. 153/2000 Coll., No. 258/2000 Coll., No. 102/2001 Coll. and 
No. 138/2002 Coll.                                                                                                                                                               
Decree No. 245/1997 Coll. that stipulates a list of plants used for pharrnaceuti cal and therapeutic purposes. IP/N/1/CZE/G/2 
Page 18  
 
 Pectin 
Animal fat of pork, poultry, beef, sheep or goat meat
9) 
Lard stearin, oleostearin and tallow stearin, lard oil,  oleomargarin and tallow oil, not emulsified, not 
mixed nor processed in any other way Fats and oils from fish or marine mammals, refined as well as not refined
9) 
Other vegetable oils, crude, refined or purified 
Edible fats and oils, of animal or vegetable or igin, hydrogenated, refined as well as not refined, 
however not further processed9) 
Margarines and other processed edible fats9) 
Waste materials from processing of animal fats or animal or vegetable waxes 
Honey2) 
Sugar (of beet or cane) in solid state2) 
Other natural sweeteners, fluid s ugar and fluid products from sugar2) 
Molasses, whether or not decolourised 10) 
Flavoured or coloured sugar10) 
Flavoured or coloured other natural sweeteners and molasses10) 
Cocoa beans or cocoa pulp, raw or roasted2) 
Other products from fruit, vegetables or other parts of plants 
Grape must, in fermentation or with fermentation a rrested otherwise than by the addition of alcohol 
Grape must with fermentation arrested by the addition of alcohol  Fruit wines
11) 
Mead, cider and perry and other wines11) 
Fermenting vinegar11) 
 
Annex  No. 2 to Decree No. 243/2002 Coll. 
 
List of agricultural products not intended for human nutrition 
  
Essential oils 
Cork Cochineal (raw material of animal origin) 
Ornamental plants and ornamental flowers 
Hay  
__________ 
 
_____________ 
9) Decree No. 328/1997 Coll. that implements Section 18, letters a), d), h), i), j) and k) of Act No. 110/1997 Coll., on 
foodstuffs and tobacco products and on the amendment and additions to some related acts, for milk and dairy 
products, ice cream and frozen  creams and edible fats and oils, as  amended by Decrees No. 347/1999 Coll., 
No. 90/2000 Coll. and No. 390/2001 Coll. 
 
10) Decree No. 334/1997 Coll.,  as amended by Decree No. 94/2000 Coll. 
Decree No. 53/2002 Coll. that im plements chemical requirem ents for health safety of the individual kinds of 
foodstuffs and food raw materials, conditions for the us e of additives, aid agents  and food supplements, as 
amended by Decree No. 233/2000 Coll.  
11) Decree No. 335/1997 Coll. that implements Section 18, letters a), d), h), i), j) and k) of Act No. 110/1997 Coll., on 
foodstuffs and tobacco products and on the amendment and addition to some related acts, for non-alcoholic 
beverages and concentrates for preparation of non-alc oholic beverages, fruit wine s, other wines and mead, 
consumer spirit, spirits and other alcoholic beverages,  fermenting vinegar and yeas t, as amended by Decree 
No. 45/2000 Coll.