RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE IP/C/W/75
14July1997
ORGANIZATION(97-2951)
Original: French Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
REVIEW OFTHE APPLICATION OFTHE PROVISIONS OFTHE
SECTION ONGEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS UNDER
ARTICLE 24.2OFTHE AGREEMENT
Communication from theEuropean Communities andtheirMember States
Thefollowing communication, dated 11July1997, hasbeenreceived from thePermanent
Delegation oftheCommission oftheEuropean Communities, withtherequest thatitbecirculated
toMembers.
_______________
APPLICATION OFSECTION 3OFTHE TRIPS AGREEMENT BYTHE
COMMUNITY AND ITSMEMBER STATES
During themeeting oftheCouncil forTRIPS of18September 1996, theCommunity andits
member States submitted totheMembers oftheWTO anon-paper pointing outdifferences inthe
implementationoftheprovisionsongeographicalindicationsoftheTRIPSAgreementbyWTOMembers.
Thenon-paper concluded byasking theWTO Secretariat todraw upacomparative table of
implementation ofthesaidprovisions asindicated bythelegislations notified bytheMembers,
particularly inrespect ofthedefinition ofgeographical indications, acquisition procedures andthemeans
ofenforcing theprotection ofgeographical indications.
AttheCouncil Meeting of27February ofthisyear, theCommunity anditsmember States
submittedanothernon-papertotheMembersoftheWTO.Thepurposeofthisdocumentwastoillustrate
whattheywished tohavedonebytheWTO Secretariat, providing acomparative tableofimplementation
oftheTRIPS Agreement inCanada, theUnited States, Japan andNewZealand. Itconcluded with
anumber ofquestions which arose during thereview oflegislations ongeographical indications that
could form theagenda ofthespecial review oflegislations ongeographical indications provided for
inArticle 24.2oftheAgreement. However, theCouncil preferred towaitforthecontributions of
other WTO Members before initiating informal consultations withaviewtoorganizing thisspecial
review.
TheCommunity anditsmember States would liketorepeat their proposal forthe
WTO Secretariat toproduce, inview ofthenextmeeting oftheCouncil forTRIPS, asynthesis of
thereplies received inconnection withthereview oflegislations ongeographical indications which
helptoanswer thequestions raised bytheCommunity anditsmember States and,possibly, byother
WTO Members.
Thepreliminary purpose ofthiscommunication istoprovide anoverview oftheapplication
oftheTRIPS Agreement intheEuropean Union through thetwotables supplied inannex. ThefirstIP/C/W/75
Page2
ofthese tables contains references totherelevant Community legislation concerning theapplication
oftheprotection provided forinArticles 22and23.Thesecond tabledescribes ingreater detail the
stepsthatcanbetaken ineachmember Statetoobtain suchprotection. Asregards wines, inaccordance
withCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.2048/89 laying down general rulesoncontrols inthewinesector,
controls withrespect tothedescription andpresentation ofwines aregoverned bycommon principles
andassistance procedures between thecompetent authorities ofthemember States andtheCommission.TABLE IIP/C/W/75
Page3Application oftheSection onGeographical Indications oftheTRIPS Agreement intheEuropean Union
Protection ofgeographical indications under theTRIPS Agreement Solution proposed byCommunity legislation
Article 22.1: Define thegeographical indications:
"...indications which ...identify agood asoriginating intheterritory ofaMember, where agiven
quality, reputation orother characteristic ofthegood isessentially attributable toitsgeographical
origin."Wines: Article 72(a) ofCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.822/87, which takes upthedefinition
contained inArticle 22oftheTRIPS Agreement.
Spirits: Article 11bisofCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.1576/89, which takes upthedefinition
contained inArticle 22oftheTRIPS Agreement.
Aromatized wine-based drinks: Article 10bisofCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.1061/91, which
takes upthedefinition contained inArticle 22oftheTRIPS Agreement.
Agricultural products andfoodstuffs: Article 2ofCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.2081/92 onthe
protection ofgeographical indications anddesignations oforigin foragricultural products and
foodstuffs.
Article 22.2: Protect geographical indications:
(a) Against theriskofdeception ofconsumers;
(b) Against unfair competition (Article 10bisoftheParis Convention).Directive 84/450/EEC onmisleading advertising
Articles 2,3and15ofDirective 79/112/EEC onthelabelling offoodstuffs
Articles 2,3and4ofDirective 84/450/EEC onmisleading advertising
Article 22.3: Provide protection withrespect toatrademark which contains orconsists ofa
geographical indication.Council Directive 89/104/EEC toapproximate thelawsofMember States relating totrademarks
excludes theregistration ofatrademark which consists ofageographical indication (Article 3(c)) or
trademarks which areofsuchanature astodeceive thepublic, forinstance astothegeographical
origin ofthegoods (Article 3(g)); thecorresponding situations arecovered byArticle 40§2of
Council Regulation (EEC) No.2392/89 laying down general rules forthedescription and
presentation ofwines; Article 13ofCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.2333/92 laying down general
rules forthedescription andpresentation ofsparkling wines; andArticle 14ofCouncil Regulation
(EEC) No.2081/92 ontheprotection ofgeographical indications anddesignations oforigin for
agricultural products andfoodstuffs.
Article 22.4: Provide protection withrespect toanother geographical indication when theconsumer
ismisled.Articles 2§1(a)(i); 3§1(7)and15§2,subparagraph (2),ofDirective 79/112/EEC onthe
labelling offoodstuffs;
Articles 2and3ofDirective 84/450/EEC onmisleading advertising;
Article 40§1ofCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.2392/89 laying down general rules forthe
description andpresentation ofwines; and
Article 13§1ofCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.2333/92 laying down general rules forthe
description andpresentation ofsparkling wines.Protection ofgeographical indications under theTRIPS Agreement Solution proposed byCommunity legislation
Article 23.1: Prevent useofageographical indication identifying wines forwines notoriginating inIP/C/W/75
Page4theplace indicated oridentifying spirits forspirits notoriginating intheplace indicated, evenwhere
thetrueorigin ofthegoods isindicated orthegeographical indication isusedintranslation etc.Wines: Article 72(a) ofCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.822/87 which takes uptheprovisions of
Article 23.1oftheTRIPS Agreement andArticle 40§1ofCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.2392/89
andArticle 3§1ofCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.2333/92.
Spirits: Article 11bisofCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.1576/89 which takes uptheprovisions of
Article 23.1oftheTRIPS Agreement.
Aromatized wine-based drinks: Article 10bisofCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.1601/91 which
takes uptheprovisions orArticle 23.1oftheTRIPS Agreement.
Article 23.2: Refuse orinvalidate atrademark which contains ageographical indication identifying
wines oratrademark which contains ageographical indication identifying spirits when such
trademarks apply, respectively, towines orspirits nothaving thisorigin.Article 7§1,point (j)ofCouncil Regulation (EC) No.40/94 ontheCommunity trademark.
Exceptions: Article 40§3ofCouncil Regulation (EEC) No.2392/89 andArticle 13§3ofCouncil
Regulation (EEC) No.2333/92 which preserve, interalia,therighttoawell-known brand name
forwine which contains thename ofaspecified region ifthatbrand name corresponds tothe
identity ofitsoriginal holder, wasregistered atleast25years before theofficial recognition ofthe
geographical indication andhasactually beenusedsince thenwithout interruption. Thisrightmay
notbeinvoked against theuseofgeographical names forwines.TABLE 2IP/C/W/75
Page5Application ofSection 3oftheTRIPS Agreement intheMember States oftheEuropean Union
Interested parties Filing ofcomplaint Investigating authority Final decision Content andpenalties Appeal
Austria (1)and(2)Allpersons ifthe
complaint concerns wines
(3)Competitor orassociation of
interested circles(1)"Bundeskellerei-
inspektion"
(2)"Bezirksverwaltungs-
behörde"
(3)Regular courts or
commercial courts(1)"Bundeskellerei-
inspektion"
(2)"Bezirksverwaltungs-
behörde"
(3)Exparte(1)"Bundeskellerei-
inspektion"
(2)"Bezirksverwaltungs-
behörde"
(3)Court(1)Withdrawal ofthe
product from the
market
(2)Fine
(3)Cease anddesist
order, damages,
compensation(1)and(2)Ministry of
Agriculture
(3)"Oberlandesgericht
"followed by
Supreme Court
Belgium Producer, consumer, importer,
exporter oreconomic inspectorate
(exofficio)(1)Economic inspectorate
(2)Civil, commercial or
criminal court(1)Economic inspectorate
(2)Judge, according to
procedure(1)Economic
inspectorate
(2)Court(1)Compromise proposal
(2)Cease anddesist
order, compensation
fordamage; finesTransmitted tothe
Government
procurator 'soffice in
caseofrejection (see2)
(2)Yes
Denmark Producers andtheirassociations,
consumers, importers(1)Food Control Unit;
incaseofrejection of
thefinaldecision,
transmitted topolice
(2)(1)Food Control Unit
(2)Police(1)Food Control Unit
(2)Court ("byret")(1)Prohibition orcease
anddesist order
(2)Fines(1)National Food
Agency
(2)"Landsret",
followed by
"Hoejesteret"
Germany Anyinjured person orperson
whose interests arethreatened
(with theexception ofstates)(1)Civil court
(2)Police, procurator or
"Amtsgericht"(1)Judge (exparte)
(2)Police, procurator (ex
officio)(1)Civil court
(2)Criminal court(1)Cease anddesist
order, damages and
compensation
(2)Fineand/or uptotwo
years'imprisonment(1)Yes,ifdamages
exceed DM10,000
(2)Yes
Spain Anyinjured orthreatened person,
producers 'orconsumers '
association, "Consejo regulador"
ofdesignation oforigin (wines)(1)Civil court
(2)Criminal court(1)Judge, according to
judicial procedure
(2)Public prosecutor(1)Civil court
(2)Criminal courtCease anddesist order,
damages, compensation,
fineanduptofouryears'
imprisonment, closure of
theconvicted firm(1)Yes
(2)Yes
Finland (1)Anyinjured orthreatened
person
(2)Consumer
(3)Supervisory authority(1)Market Court
(2)Ombudsman
(3)Exofficio supervisory
authority(1)Market Court
(2)Ombudsman
(3)Supervisory authority(1)Market Court
(2)Ombudsman
(3)Supervisory authority(1),(2)and(3)Cease and
desist order under threat
ofpenalties
(1)Damages, fineand
uptooneyear's
imprisonmentYes,except where ex
officio, orifthe
complainant isconvictedInterested parties Filing ofcomplaint Investigating authority Final decision Content andpenalties Appeal
FranceIP/C/W/75
Page6 (1)Anyperson orDGCCRF
(unitincharge offraud
repression) exofficio
(2)Injured person(1)Judicial criminal court
following enquiry by
theDGCCRF
(2)DGCCRF orcourt(1)Judicial criminal court
(2)DGCCRF (exofficio)
orcourt(1)Criminal court
(2)Civil court(1)Twotofouryears'
imprisonment and/or
fines
(2)Damages(1)Court ofAppeal
andCourt of
Cassation
(2)Yes
Italy Producers orgroupings thereof,
State forcompliance withnational
legislation(1)Regular courts
(2)Administrative courts(1)and(2)"Guardia di
finanza", fraud repression
unitetc.(1)and(2)Judges Fines and/or uptotwo
months 'imprisonment
Netherlands Anyperson (1)Civil court
(2)Police
(3)"Inspectie voorde
Gezondheidsbescher-
ming"(1)Exparte
(2)Police
(3)"Inspectie voorde
Gezondheidsbescher-
ming"(1)Civil court or
(2)and(3)Criminal courtCease anddesist order
under threat ofpenalties,
damages, confiscation of
product.Yes("Gerechtshof"
(Appeal Court)
followed by"Hoge
Raad" (Court of
Cessation)
Portugal Holders ofgeographical indication
rights andtheirrepresentatives(1)Court
(2)Criminal investigation
department
(3)General inspectorate
ofeconomic activities(1)Judge (exparte)
(2)Police
(3)General inspectorate
ofeconomic activities(1)Court
(2)Police
(3)General inspectorate
ofeconomic activities(1)
(2)and(3)Yes: courts
Sweden (1)Anyinterested party
(2)and(3)Injured persons,
including manufacturers ',
consumers 'andemployees '
associations(1)Ombudsman
(2)Stockholm Court
(3)Court(1)Ombudsman
(2)Stockholm Court
(3)Court(1)Ombudsman
(2)Stockholm Court
(3)Court(1)Consumer
information
(2)Prohibitions and
market disruption
fees
(3)Damages(1)Yes: Stockholm
Court
(2)Yes: Market Court
(3)Yes: Market Court
United
Kingdom(1)Anyparty capable of
showing therequired
goodwill orreputation
(2)Anyperson (wines)
(3)Anyperson(1)Civil court
(2)Wine Standard Board
(WSB) (independent
body)
(3)Local authority(1)Judge (exparte)
(2)Employees ofthe
WSB
(3)Employees ofthe
local authority(1)Court
(2)WSB (proposes that
theGovernment
should institute legal
proceedings)
(3)Local authority (may
request proceedings)(1)Injunctions,
compensation,
damages
(2)Prohibition, fines
(3)Fines(1)Yes: Court of
Appeal
(2)Secretariat ofthe
WSB andCourt of
Appeal forcriminal
proceedings
(3)Yes: Court of
Appeal
Luxembourg Anyperson andinspectors for
wines andfoods(1)Inspection agencies
(2)Criminal court
(3)Civil Court(1)Inspectors
(2)Ditto orpolice
(3)Exparte(1)Inspection agencies
(2)Criminal Judge
(3)Civil Judge(1)Injunction to
withdraw theproduct
(2)Injunctions, fines,
imprisonment
(3)Damages(1)Yes
(2)and(3)Court of
Appeal andCourt of
Cessation