Brussels, 04/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 4 March, the European Commission published a study which assesses the value of the Community geographic indications (GI) scheme for the protection of food and agricultural products, including wines and spirits. 60% of sales of European GI products took place in the country in which these products originated, 20% took place in other EU countries and a further 20% were exported outside the third countries. Exports outside the EU represent some €11.5 billion and are mainly destined for the United States (30%), Switzerland and Singapore (7% each), and for Canada, China, Japan and Hong Kong (6% each). Commenting on this study, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Ciolos stressed that GIs “are worth €54.3 billion worldwide and represent 15% of our total food and drinks exports”. He added that “this shows their importance to the EU economy and the relevance of our efforts to promote and defend this scheme”.
Over the period 2005-2010, wines accounted for 56 % of all sales of food and agricultural products with a protected name produced in the European Union (€30.4 billion), agricultural products and foodstuffs for 29% (15.8 billion euros), spirit drinks for 15% (€8.1 billion) and aromatised wines for 0.1% (€13.3 million). The study also shows that GI products were estimated to be sold for prices 2.23 as high as for non-GI products. (OL/transl.fl)