LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF ACCESSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION ON GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS AND DESIGNATIONS OF ORIGIN FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND FOODSTUFFS

摘要

Summary: Accession to the European Union (EU) implies the acceptanceof the rights and obligations attached to the EU system and itsinstitutional framework, known as the “acquis communautaire”. Eachnew Member State of the EU will have to apply this as it stands at thetime of accession. The subject matter of this Article is the part of the“acquis” dealing with the protection of geographical indications anddesignations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs. Theauthor fi rst describes the pre-accession situation, then points out thepossibilities of transitional arrangements, and later goes into the detailsof Regulation 510/2006 - the most important legal source for theprotection of geographical indications and designations of origin afteraccession to the EU. Where appropriate, the relevant ECJ cases arecited. Some of these cases are described in detail. Finally, to give anoverview of the existing means of legal protection, the author contemplatesthe international dimension by examining WTO law.