The Consortium - News & Events - The Parma Ham Consortium

28.01.05

A meeting is to be held in Parma between the Parma Ham and Parmigiano-Reggiano Consortiums and the American authorities on the 8th and 9th February, to discuss the protection and guaranteeing of PDO products at an international level and during WTO negotiations.

The aim of the meeting is to raise awareness within the WTO section that is still skeptical about the advantages that additional protection would bring to the existing geographical indications at an international level.

In particular, it follows-on from a report by the WTO Panel regarding the strong criticisms shown by the United States and Australia on the European regulation 2081/92 concerning PDO.

In reality, only the geographical indications of wine and alcohol are efficiently protected at the moment by the trade related aspects of intellectual property rights (commonly known as TRIPs Agreements).

Those participating at the meeting are:

- Deborah Lashley-Johnson, Attorney Advisor U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
- Perky Ramroth, Industry Analyst, Alcohol and Tobacco Trade Bureau (TTB Office)
- Geoffrey Wiggin, Ministro-Consigliere per l'Agricoltura, Ambasciata USA di Roma
- Kirk Ressler, Console USA, Consolato di Milano
- Angelica Guerrieri, Assistente Sezione Economica, Consolato USA di Milano

"I think it is vital to explain the importance of the connection between our product and its origins to the United States government - said Stefano Fanti, director of the Parma Ham Consortium - only in this way is it possible to make ourselves heard at an international level with the precise objective of obtaining better guarantees and protection for all PDO products during WTO negotiations."

"A meeting with the American authorities - confirmed Leo Bertozzi, director of the Parmigiano-Reggiano Consortium - is of fundamental importance in the crucial negotiation phase at a multilateral level on the topic of protection of Denominated Origin. In particular, the Consortium's steps to have the word Parmesan made synonymous with Parmigiano-Reggiano, essential for the product's performance in international markets, will be highlighted during a visit to the cheese factory".

We should bear in mind that these two Consortiums are among the founding members of the oriGIn network, an international network for the protection and promotion of geographical indications, which was set up in 2003 and that unites more than one hundred producers from more than 30 countries throughout the world.

OriGIn aims to promote geographical indications as a development tool, particularly through producer partnerships; it also maintains constant relations with Institutions in order to improve these geographical indications at an international level.

For further information:

Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma
Via Marco dell'Arpa, 8/b - 43100 Parma
Press Office
Tel. 0521.243987
Fax 0521.243983

Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano-Reggiano
Via J.F. Kennedy, 18 - 42100 Reggio Emilia
Press Office
Tel. 0522.700230
Fax 0522.700240

Parma Consortiums to meet with US to discuss PDO protection at international level.

28.01.05