Application for recognition of Cretan olive oil as a product of protected geographical indication

Subject: Application for recognition of Cretan olive oil as a product of protected geographical indication

Recently, the Greek Government recognised Cretan olive oil as a product of protected geographical indication (PGI) and subsequently asked the Commission to also recognise it as a PGI in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012. The Commission received this request in June and is looking into it.

In view of the importance of the PGI for Cretan producers and the fact that a number of studies have shown that Cretan olive oil is particularly beneficial for the human body, given that it helps to prevent cancer and lowers the risk of heart disease and other serious diseases:

1. Is recognition of Cretan olive oil as a PGI product one of the Commission’s priorities?

2. What transitional period does it intend to grant producers under Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 to comply with the requirements if it is recognised as a PGI?

Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski on behalf of the European Commission (9 August 2021)

The European Commission attaches great importance to geographical indications as they preserve the quality and diversity of the EU’s agricultural, fisheries and aquaculture production, give a competitive advantage to the EU’s producers and make a major contribution to its living cultural and gastronomic heritage. Every application to register a geographical indication is thus treated with due diligence. As laid down in Article 50(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs (1), the Commission must scrutinise by appropriate means any application that it receives, in order to check that it is justified and that it meets the conditions of the respective scheme. This scrutiny should not exceed a period of six months.

According to Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs, the Commission may adopt implementing acts granting a transitional period of up to five years to enable products originating in a Member State or a third country the designation of which consists of or contains a name that contravenes Article 13(1) of the same Regulation to continue to use the designation under which it was marketed on condition that an admissible statement of opposition was lodged. According to Article 15(2) of the same Regulation, this period can be extended to 15 years in duly justified cases.

⋅1∙ OJ L 343, 14.12.2012. | | ( | | )