Brussels, 25/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - According to a press release published on Monday 25 April, the Association of European Regions for Products of Origin (AREPO) opposes the principle of "an a priori restricted list of Geographical Indications (GIs)" as part of the negotiations with the US on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement (TTIP)
AREPO is asking the European Commission for a widespread recognition and strong protection of GIs in TTIP.
The 1,300 GIs for foodstuffs registered by the European Commission "represent a whole section of European agricultural and food culture, but also a really important share of rural economy, accounting for an annual turnover of at least 60 billion Euros". Moreover, the total value of GIs products exported outside EU is estimated at €15 billion and the US represents by far the leading destination country for EU GIs, accounting for 30% of the total exports from the EU. For this reason AREPO reminds that GIs are a key interest of the European Union and all registered GIs should be protected in all trade agreements signed by the EU. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)