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Document 91999E000407

    WRITTEN QUESTION No. 407/99 by Honório NOVO Semi-generic designations of origin for Port Wine

    SL C 370, 21.12.1999, p. 37 (ES, DA, DE, EL, EN, FR, IT, NL, PT, FI, SV)

    European Parliament's website

    91999E0407

    WRITTEN QUESTION No. 407/99 by Honório NOVO Semi-generic designations of origin for Port Wine

    Official Journal C 370 , 21/12/1999 P. 0037


    WRITTEN QUESTION E-0407/99

    by Honório Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

    (1 March 1999)

    Subject: Semi-generic designations of origin for Port Wine

    In his reply of 17 October 1997 to my Question E-2674/97(1), Commissioner Franz Fischler informed me that "the Commission has begun negotiations with South Africa with the aim of enforcing, on a reciprocal basis, the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin of wines and spirits and, in particular, of putting an end to any generic or semi-generic use of Community indications".

    Information from various sources indicates that, in the wake of those negotiations, a draft agreement has been drawn up to regulate future trade relations between the EU and South Africa.

    Under the draft agreement, it appears that South Africa will be able to continue producing wine designated "Port" and/or "Porto" and/or "Port Wine" for marketing in its internal market for a period of 12 years, with no provision being made for a ban on the use of those designations of origin and geographical indications at the end of that generous period.

    If that information is correct, it clearly contradicts the information supplied to me by the Commission on 17 October 1997 and quoted above.

    What remarks would the Commission make on this contradiction?

    Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

    (30 April 1999)

    The Commission can only confirm its position as set out in its answers to Mr Barros Moura's question E-2485/97(2) and the Honourable Member's E-2674/97 on strengthening the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for wine and spirits in the context of negotiations with third countries. With regard to port, this objective was confirmed at the time of the European summit in Berlin on the occasion of the conclusion of the agreement with South Africa (see also in this connection the Commission's answer to the Honourable Member's written question E-408/99(3)).

    (1) OJ C 117, 16.4.1998, p. 41.

    (2) OJ C 82, 17.3.1998.

    (3) OJ C 348, 3.12.1999, p. 63.

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