Brussels, 18/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - According to a press statement on Monday 18 April, the European Union and Moldova have concluded negotiations on an agreement to protect their respective Geographical Indications (GIs). Through this agreement Moldova will ensure high-level protection for more than 3,200 European GIs for food products, wines and spirits. This agreement also aims at promoting and fostering trade relations in agricultural products and foodstuffs originating in the territories of both Moldova and the European Union.
EU Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Dacian Cioloº declared: “This agreement is a further step in strengthening our system of GIs around the world, and it also gives relations between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova a new, positive dynamic. It builds a stronger partnership, aiming at promoting and protecting quality products, benefiting farmers and industries in both Moldova and the EU.”
Moldova is the second among the EU neighbourhood countries after Georgia to take this important step forward in promoting and protecting the quality of agricultural production. The objective of these negotiations is to better protect consumers in terms of not being misled on the true origin and quality of the product. Furthermore, through this agreement, Moldova is adapting its domestic legislation to the highest standards on the protection of intellectual property rights.
The initial protection of two wine GIs originating from Moldova is expected to help marketing of these products on the EU market and encourage developing the system of protection of GIs in Moldova, for example by extending it to other categories of products. The agreement will now be passed to the Council and European Parliament for approval before its final entry into force. (L.C./transl.fl)