The Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN), of which IDFA is a founding member, issued a press release regarding the EU’s decision to allow Denmark to apply for a geographical indication (GI) for Havarti. CCFN plans to “object to this application on the grounds of its genericness and disregard of the CODEX standard finalized in 2007.”

In similar news, the United Kingdom Court of Appeal ruled last week that only yogurt made in Greece could be labeled as "Greek Yogurt." CCFN denounced the court decision citing that the term "Greek Yogurt" is not a current GI, nor is it under consideration in the EU to become one.

GIs provide producers in a specific region the exclusive right to use a particular product name, and CCFN supports legitimate GIs. However, the EU has been working to claw back the use of food names that the United States and many other countries recognize as generic, therefore creating a de facto trade barrier.

For more information, contact Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org.