Better GI protection within the WTO

framework

Stefano Fanti – Managing DirectorConsorzio del Prosciutto di Parma

Geneva, 27 May 2004

Parma Ham in Figures

• 200 producers, with 3.000 employees• 150 slaughter houses • 5.500 breeding farms• Annual production: +/- 9 million hams• 80% sold on the Italian market• Exported to more than 60

countries• Annual turnover: 1.5 billion €

High Costs due to the limited GI Protection

• Numerous abuses of the Parma Ham name

• High costs for producers– Legal costs: more than 1 million Euros

per year– Image and Reputation towards

consumers undermined– Loss of many market opportunities

• High costs for consumers: mislead on the quality and origin of the product

Misleading label and Abuse of the designation “Parma Ham” in Canada

Parma = Italy

Italian authentic!

Italian flag

It must be Italian!

Protecting a Geographical Indication: Mission almost

Impossible!• Absence of sui generis GI system in

many countries

• Registration via trademark systems refused: generic and/or descriptive name

• Limited interest in trademark registration if product not allowed in the country

• Name already registered as trademark = one is forced to purchase a registered trademark

Article 22 Protection Not Sufficient

• Article 22 TRIPS mainly protects against consumer deception– Extremely difficult to prove consumer

deception– Burden of proof on the holder of a GI– Legal uncertainty: up to courts to decide

• Article 22 does not prevent:– GIs from becoming generic– Abuse of GI name by trademark

• Consumers not protected against deception

Better protection of GIs required

• Article 23 Protection for all GI products– No discrimination between GI products– Legal means to prevent:

• Use of GI name even when true origin indicated• Use of GI name in translation• Use of GI name with expressions such as « like », « kind »,

« style »• Registration of trademark than contains a GI name

• Need a legally binding multilateral register open to all geographical indications

Thank you for your attention