EU full of Picky Eaters

[GePap]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Think of it. A thousand different cheeses (Parmasian, Chedder, feta), most of the wines (Champagne, Chianti), most of the beer styles (Pilsner, Dortmunder) and many ways of preparing meat are all named after place names. They are trying to take these phrases and descriptions out of the common language and make them mean only products they make claiming this will help avoid consumer confusion.

Not all the claims are equal (which mean not all are equally invalid) The claims for some Cheese are far-fetched, but not all, same for the cured meats. In the wine area, you can always name wines after the grape types, which matters most I think: restrciting place names in that respect is not an issue. As for Pilsner, well, the folk in Pilsner already made sure everyone knows they are the "true" ones with the Urquell name.

The exact opposite is true though; it will create more consumer confusion and will prevent consumers from making comparasions between like products. This legislation is custom designed to confuse consumers and to line the pockets of a few European producers.

Again, it is a claim by claim issue: not all the claims tyring to be made are valid: not all of them are invalid either.

[Dinner]

I agree with you Gepap. Some are valid and others are not. It should be decided on a case by case basis.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
We have consumer-protection (aka "truth in advertising") laws that prevent those kinds of shenanigans. All imported food products here must be clear on nation of origin. Trying to mislead in that way here tends to make for quick lawyer-bait.

I know that in France, there is always a more or less discreet label "Made in ...". I think that the exact place of fabrication must figure on packages in Germany, and this may be the European law (Hersh will know better than me). But like the rest, it is in small font on the other side of the package. Only picky people (like what I am with Feta) will bother reading as much to know that about their product.

As an aside, when I shop for cheddar cheese, the manufacturers always note that it's a Vermont cheddar or a New York cheddar, if it comes from either of those states. It's not a requirement -- it's a marketing point.

Well, I doubt any Danish fetamaker will ever advertise on its nationality, except maybe in Denmark Same for Chilean Champagne, or other similar things. Besides, most Feta-packagings here, despite not mentioning "Origin : Greece" blatantly, display a Greek-evoking landscape, and sometimes even a Greek flag. Despite not being an outright lie (there is no explicit mentions it has been made in Greece), it sure is misleading.

But then again, I talk about feta and I don't even think Feta should be protected about its location. Only about the recipe and the contents (Sorry, but Feta is the only thing where I am really picky... I am a tad picky with wine, but I only drink seriously with my father, who makes the selection)

[Kuciwalker]

Only when the location in which it is produced has an effect on the final product (like a special balance of nutrients in the soil, certain things in the air, temperatures and amount of light) should the name of the product be restricted by the place in which it was produced.

[Sarxis]

Considering I already eat tradmarked foods (McDonald's, Wendy's, Jack-in-the-Box, Sprite, Big Kahuna Burger), I just don't care.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by skywalker
Only when the location in which it is produced has an effect on the final product (like a special balance of nutrients in the soil, certain things in the air, temperatures and amount of light) should the name of the product be restricted by the place in which it was produced.

Yep. This is why GePap's idea of a case to case basis is good.

However, there is a technical problem with restricting names according to the right recipe (what I advocate for Feta, and what I'd advocate for products like Mayonnaise and other traditional foods). This is: who gets the right to define what is the "right" recipe ? What makes it legitimate to tell that real feta is made of goat milk, and that cow-milk feta is a fake ? This sounds obvious (Feta is not a millenial Danish tradition ), but who has the right to tell what the real recipe should be ? Answering this answer would bring many headaches.

[Kuciwalker]

It can be legislated.

For example, in the US, to call your product "beer", it must fall within certain specifications.

[Harovan]

I haven't yet seen this charge addressed in this thread:

"This is not about protectionism. It is about fairness,'' EU Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler said in a statement. "It is simply not acceptable that the EU cannot sell its genuine Italian Parma ham in Canada because the trademark 'Parma ham' is reserved for a ham produced in Canada.''

How can a Canadian producer by holding a local trademark for his fake hinder the sales of the genuine product?

[HershOstropoler]

Originally posted by Oerdin

It's to late. Anyone who doesn't defend a copy right loses that copy right when a phrase enters into the common language. This is a well established legal principle and it is the reason companies like Xerox sue publications which call photocopies 'Xeroxes". They don't want to loss the rights to their mark due to lack of defending the mark.

And as I said before, GIs are not trademarks or copyrights. I suggest you read the TRIPS.

"None, and I do mean none, of the frivalous cases the EU is bringing up now have been legally defended ever before recently. During the centuries they were not defended they entered the language and now it is like trying to copy right the word "door" or "car"."

Legally "defended" where?
Looks like the WTO will have to rule on this.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by skywalker
For example, in the US, to call your product "beer", it must fall within certain specifications.

Yep, that's the same in Germany. But for an international regulation (that's what the thread is about), there is no legal reason for some EU organism to describe the "real" recipe the rest of the world should abide to. Even if the rest of the world would agree that recipe X should be describe by someone in the EU (I don't think it is going to happen), the particular someone is less than clear...

[Kuciwalker]

Oh.

[HershOstropoler]

Originally posted by Spiffor

I know that in France, there is always a more or less discreet label "Made in ...". I think that the exact place of fabrication must figure on packages in Germany, and this may be the European law (Hersh will know better than me).

It usually has to (Art 3 para 8 Directive 2000/13/EC), yes.

[Kuciwalker]

In the US it has to, IIRC.

[Buck Birdseed]

Confusing foodstuff situation of the day:

Today, I was rummaging thrugh my parents' freezer to take out a piece of Hungarian sausage, thinking whether I should pick a Gyulai or a Csabai (two different types of Paprika-flavoured Salami, the latter rather spicier than the former) So I rummaged through the carrier bag they're in and...

I picked out a Csabai, manufactured by the Gyulai company.

(Csaba and Gyula are geographical locations, but they're not protected. Go figure. )

[Az]

do you really care that badly about this, Buck?