WRITTEN QUESTION E-3601/00 by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission. Protection of typical products outside the EU.
Date: 2000-11-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: TRIPS, consumer protection, designation of origin, foodstuff, industrial counterfeiting, intellectual property, product designation, product quality, quality control of agricultural products

C 163 E/174

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

The Centre(cid:146)s budget has been rising quite substantially. Since 1995, the year in which it was launched, its
budget has risen by over 60 %, from € 5,35 million to € 8,75 million in 2001. Implementation of the
reform must not result in increased requirements in terms of resources but must enable the Centre to carry
out its tasks (especially those entrusted to it by the action plan for 2000-2004), by becoming more
efficient and concentrating on its priority tasks.

As regards the support which the Centre receives from the Commission in institutional terms, the
Commission ensures that appropriate proposals are presented to the Council. Thus, following a Commis-
sion proposal (1), the Regulation establishing the Centre was amended so that it could provide technical
assistance to applicant countries and undertake an assistance project worth € 2 million under the PHARE
programme.

Lastly, the Commission stays closely in touch with the Emcdda and is particularly anxious to foster
synergies between the Centre(cid:146)s work and the activities carried out under Community programmes to
combat drugs.

(1) OJ C 342 E, 30.11.1999.

(2001/C 163 E/199)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3601/00

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Protection of typical products outside the EU

Nowadays the European Union(cid:146)s typical products are protected by labels, such as PDO (protected
designation of origin) and PGI (protected geographical indication), which have at last made it possible to
put an end to imitation products that confuse consumers and create uncertainty on the market.
Unfortunately, however, such product protection systems are confined to the Union and so (cid:129) as in the
case of (cid:145)fontina(cid:146), the typical cheese of the Valle d(cid:146)Aosta region (cid:129) do not prevent the placing on the United
States market of imitation or counterfeit products, even if they originate in Europe, or the manufacture
and sale of such products under the same name as typical products in South America.

What steps has the Commission taken to enable the system for the protection of PDO and PGI products to
be extended beyond the Union by means of appropriate international agreements, thus protecting both the
products in question and consumers? Can the Commission take action at European level against those who
manufacture imitation DOP and IGP products for sale outside Europe?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(14 December 2000)

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 ensures the development of protection for
indications on the Community market (1). The protection is
designations of origin and geographical
designed to promote product quality, ensure proper information for the consumer about products and
prevent substitutes or imitations from undermining the reputation of these products.

At international level, the adoption, within the World Trade Organisation (WTO), of the Agreement on
trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPs) marked real progress in the protection of
designations of origin and geographical
indications. It must nevertheless be recognised that the TRIPs
Agreement includes a number of restrictions on the legal protection of quality products and that progress
still needs to be made, in particular as regards products other than wines and spirits.

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/175

this Agreement,

the Commission is continuing a policy of protecting European
On the basis of
designations against misuse on foreign markets. Improvement of market access for Community quality
products is also part of the Communities(cid:146) comprehensive negotiating proposal under the WTO negotia-
tions on agriculture. The Commission has asked the Member States to provide it with information on
European products protected by geographical
indications or designations of origin which are being
counterfeited on the export markets. On this basis, the Commission is playing an active part in the
discussions currently being held on the multilateral register for wines and spirits and extension of the
protection of geographical indications to products other than wines and spirits under the TRIPS Council
integrated programme.

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992.

(2001/C 163 E/200)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3604/00

by Roberto Bigliardo (TDI) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Air travel: (cid:145)economy-class syndrome(cid:146)

Does the President of the Commission intend to adopt any binding measures, and if so which, in relation
to airline companies after the recent death of Miss Emma Christoffersen, a British citizen, who was taken
ill shortly after landing in London after a 20-hour flight on a Quantas Jumbo 747 from Sidney?

Miss Christoffersen suffered an embolism brought on by sitting still for a long time in cramped conditions.
Her sad death highlights the problems for passengers travelling long distances in economy class. The
limited space (70 to 85 cm) between rows of seats is a genuine hazard for many people, who run the risk
of suffering a fatal attack of thrombosis. At the very least, the airline companies could inform travellers of
the risks they incur by remaining seated throughout long flights.

Will more passengers have to die before any action is taken?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(8 January 2001)

The Commission takes most seriously the question of links between immobility during long flights and
problems of blood circulation, and other potential health risks, such as those linked to air quality.

It therefore intends to set up groups of experts to scrutinise existing research and draw conclusions on
health risks and the need for further research. This will enable the Commission and all interested parties to
consider the case for further measures, whether the responsibility of the Community, national govern-
ments, airlines, airports or passengers themselves.

(2001/C 163 E/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3605/00

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Replanting vineyards in PDO and PGI areas

Some wine-growers in Italy grubbed up their vineyards in accordance with the scheme for the permanent
abandonment of areas under vines introduced by Regulation (EEC) No 1442/88 (1).