COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2021/2233

of 14 December 2021

approving, on behalf of the European Union, amendments to Annexes 10-A and 10-B to the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore

(notified under document C(2021) 8893)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Decision (EU) 2019/1875 of 8 November 2019 on the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore (1), and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore (‘the Agreement’) entered into force on 21 November 2019.

(2) Article 16.1 of the Agreement establishes a Trade Committee, which, inter alia, may consider amendments to the Agreement, or amend provisions of the Agreement in cases specifically provided for in the Agreement.

(3) Article 10.17.3 of the Agreement provides that the Trade Committee is to adopt a decision regarding the listing in Annex 10-B (Protected Geographical Indications) to the Agreement of the names from Annex 10-A (List of names to be applied for protection as Geographical Indications in the territory of the Parties) to the Agreement as soon as practicable after the procedures for protection of geographical indications have been concluded.

(4) Article 10.18 of the Agreement provides that the Parties agree on the possibility of amending the list of geographical indications for wines, spirits, agricultural products and foodstuffs listed in Annex 10-B to be protected by each Party.

(5) The Republic of Singapore has completed the procedure for protection in its territory of two names (‘Bardolino Superiore’, ‘Tiroler Speck’) that were listed in Annex 10-A to the Agreement and were applied for protection as geographical indications of the Union.

(6) The Republic of Singapore has completed the procedure for protection in its territory of one name (‘Saint-Emilion Grand Cru’) that was not listed in Annex 10-A to the Agreement and was applied for protection as geographical indication of the Union.

(7) Following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union as from 1 January 2021, the name ‘Scotch Whisky’ should be removed from the names listed in Annex 10-B to the Agreement in accordance with Article 10.18 to that Agreement.

(8) The name ‘Polish Cherry’ is no longer protected in the Union and should be removed from Annex 10-A to the Agreement.

(9) Consequently, Annexes 10-A and 10-B to the Agreement should be amended by listing those additional three names as protected geographical indications of the Union in Annex 10-B and removing two of those names from Annex 10-A. The names ‘Scotch Whisky’ and ‘Polish Cherry’ should also be removed respectively from Annex 10-B and Annex 10-A, as set out in the attached draft Decision of the Trade Committee and the amendments should be approved on behalf of the Union.

(10) In order to fulfill as soon as practicable the obligations set out in Articles 10.17.3 and 10.18 of the Agreement, it is appropriate that this decision should enter into force on the day following that of its publication,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1 The amendments to Annexes 10-A and 10-B to the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore as set out in the draft Decision of the Trade Committee are hereby approved on behalf of the European Union. The draft Decision of the Trade Committee is set out in the Annex to this Decision. The position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the first meeting of the Trade Committee shall be based on this draft Decision. Minor changes to the draft Decision of the Trade Committee may be agreed by the representatives of the European Union in the Trade Committee without further decision of the Commission.

Article 2 The representatives of the European Union in the Trade Committee are authorised to adopt the decision of that Committee on behalf of the European Union.

Article 3 This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. After its adoption, the Decision of the Trade Committee shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 14 December 2021. For the Commission Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI Member of the Commission

(1) Council Decision (EU) 2019/1875 of 8 November 2019 on the conclusion of the Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore (OJ L 294, 14.11.2019, p. 1).