28/01/2020 (Agence Europe) – The Australian Research Council confirmed to EUROPE that Canberra is compiling evidence to strengthen its ability to resist the EU's “spurious” demands for geographical indications (GIs) for wines in trade agreements (see EUROPE 12406/3), as they believe the EU is seeking “protection for what appear to be grape varieties rather than GIs”. On 12 January, Canberra announced that 61,000 euros would be allocated to this project, which aims to ensure “that local wine makers aren’t disadvantaged by foreign producers making spurious claims for the exclusive use of wine names, such as prosecco”, as Dan Tehan, Australia's minister for education declared at the time. The draft will need to clarify “the appropriate basis for protecting GIs for wines” concerning the “criteria, evidence and procedure that should be required to establish a GI” (HD)