DECISION No 1/2021 OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE UNDER THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND JAPAN FOR AN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP

of 25 January 2021

on the amendments to Annexes 14-A and 14-B on geographical indications [2021/109]

THE JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement between the European Union and Japan for an Economic Partnership (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Agreement’), and in particular Articles 14.30 and 22.2 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The Agreement entered into force on 1 February 2019.

(2) On 8 June 2019, Chapter III of Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) referred to in Part 1 of Annex 14-A and in Section A of Part 2 of Annex 14-B of the Agreement was repealed by Regulation (EU) 2019/787 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2). References to Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 in the Agreement should therefore be replaced accordingly by references to Regulation (EU) 2019/787.

(3) On 28 November 2019, during the first meeting of the Committee on Intellectual Property, the European Union and Japan (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Parties’) discussed the modalities to amend Annex 14-B of the Agreement pursuant to Article 14.30 and agreed to continue discussions in the coming months aiming to reach an agreement related to the addition of new geographical indications (hereinafter referred to as ‘GIs’) at the next Joint Committee meeting. As a result of those discussions, the Parties confirmed that every year, starting from 2020 and until 2022 the Joint Committee will consider up to 28 names from the European Union and from Japan respectively to be protected as GIs and added in Annex 14-B of the Agreement, provided that those names are protected as GIs domestically (3). As from 2023, the Parties will work to continuously add to Annex 14-B additional GIs in view of each side’s interests under close coordination between the Parties.

(4) Following the request of the Parties and pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 14.30, the European Union has completed the opposition procedure and the examination of 28 additional GIs of Japan and Japan has completed the opposition procedure and the examination of 28 additional GIs of the European Union.

(5) On 2 March 2020, in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 14.30 of the Agreement, Japan notified the European Union of the cessation of protection of the Japanese geographical indication ‘西尾の抹茶/Nishio Matcha’ in Japan.

(6) On 28 December 2020, in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 14.53 of the Agreement, the Committee on Intellectual Property recommended to the Joint Committee to amend Annex 14-A and Annex 14-B to the Agreement accordingly.

(7) The Parties have already completed their internal procedures necessary for adoption of the Decision by the Joint Committee under the Agreement, and should swiftly endeavour to exchange the diplomatic notes confirming the amendments to the Agreement in order for them to enter into force not more than ten working days after the Decision is adopted.

(8) Consequently, Annexes 14-A and 14-B to the Agreement should be amended, in accordance with paragraph 3 and subparagraphs 4(f) and 4(g) of Article 23.2 of the Agreement,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 In Part 1 of Annex 14-A and in footnote 1 to the title ‘The European Union’ of Section A of Part 2 of Annex 14-B, references to EU regulation shall be amended as described in Annex 1 to this Decision.

Article 2 1. In Section A of Part 1 of Annex 14-B to the Agreement, the GIs listed in Annex 2 to this Decision shall be added under the corresponding list of GIs of the respective Member State of the European Union. 2. In Section B of Part 1 of Annex 14-B to the Agreement, the geographical indication ‘西尾の抹茶/Nishio Matcha’ shall be removed from the list of GIs of Japan as indicated in Annex 3-Part 1 to this Decision and the GIs listed in Annex 3-Part 2 to this Decision shall be added to the list of GIs of Japan. 3. In Section A of Part 2 of Annex 14-B to the Agreement, the GIs listed in Annex 4 to this Decision shall be added under the corresponding list of GIs of the respective Member State of the European Union. 4. In Section B of Part 2 of Annex 14-B to the Agreement, the GIs listed in Annex 5 to this Decision shall be added to the list of GIs of Japan.

Article 3 1. In the third and fourth years of implementation of the Agreement, the Joint Committee will decide on the addition to Annex 14-B of the Agreement of a number of up to 28 names from the European Union and from Japan respectively to be protected as GIs under the Agreement, up to 83 names in total for each Party including the names under Article 2 of this Decision, provided that those names are GIs protected in the territory of the Party in accordance with its laws and regulations. 2. As from the fifth year of implementation of the Agreement, the Parties will work to continuously include additional GIs in view of the interests of each Party.

Article 4 This Decision is drawn up in duplicate. Articles 1 and 2 and Annexes to this Decision are drawn up in duplicate in the authentic languages of the Agreement provided for in paragraph 1 of Article 23.8 of the Agreement, all texts being equally authentic.

Article 5 This Decision shall be implemented by the Parties as referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 22.2 of the Agreement. The amendments to the Agreement adopted through this Decision shall be confirmed by and enter into force upon the exchange of diplomatic notes in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 23.2 of the Agreement.

For the Joint Committee Toshimitsu MOTEGI Co-Chair [for Japan] Valdis DOMBROVSKIS Co-Chair [for EU]

(1) Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 (OJ L 39, 13.2.2008, p. 16).

(2) Regulation (EU) 2019/787 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the definition, description, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks, the use of the names of spirit drinks in the presentation and labelling of other foodstuffs, the protection of geographical indications for spirit drinks, the use of ethyl alcohol and distillates of agricultural origin in alcoholic beverages, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, p. 1).

(3) For greater certainty, the Joint Committee will consider 27 or 28 names from the European Union every year regardless of the number of the names from Japan.