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Would you like fresh shredded hard cheese with that?
The European Union is proposing a "global registry of protected names," to extend worldwide the EU rules which legislate, for instance, that parmesan cheese can only come from Parma, Italy, feta cheese can only come from Greece ("even though more feta is produced in Denmark, which has challenged the rule"), asiago cheese from Italy, Camembert from France, and Gouda from the Netherlands.
The European Union has yet to submit a formal proposal to the World Trade Organization. The 15-nation bloc essentially wants to expand globally the application of its own list of roughly 600 protected food names now honored by its member states. That list includes about 150 different types of cheeses, most from France, Italy, Greece and Spain.
What would become of that ubiquitous green cylinder of Kraft Grated Parmesan Cheese in the back of your refrigerator? Imagine "Kraft Grated Hard Cheese."
The WTO already recognizes such "geographical indications" for wine and spirits.
Think Champagne, which can only be labeled as such if it comes from the Champagne region of France. If it's from elsewhere, it's called "sparkling wine," "Blanc de Noir," "Blanc de Blanc," "Spumante," or something else. But not Champagne. The EU wants to extend such restrictions to the rest of the 600-odd names on its list.
But American producers are also dependent on the names, says the Grocery Manufacturers Association of America, which is working to defeat the proposal.
"It costs billions to make, market and brand a product," said Sarah Thorn, the association's director of international relations. "For our companies, the trademark is the most significant thing about a product."
This brouhaha has the makings of becoming the next trade battle between the EU and the United States, and may just be the latest manifestation of fundamental philosophical and cultural differences. Europe inclines toward preserving the past, the United States toward appropriation and reinvention.
If nothing in America is sacred, how can it be expected to consider European geographical names as taboo and off-limits? What would happen to Las Vegas if names such as "Paris" were suddenly verboten? Our entire postmodern way of life could be jeopardized, and that would be no gouda.
Would you like fresh shredded hard cheese with that?
The European Union is proposing a "global registry of protected names," to extend worldwide the EU rules which legislate, for instance, that parmesan cheese can only come from Parma, Italy, feta cheese can only come from Greece ("even though more feta is produced in Denmark, which has challenged the rule"), asiago cheese from Italy, Camembert from France, and Gouda from the Netherlands.
The European Union has yet to submit a formal proposal to the World Trade Organization. The 15-nation bloc essentially wants to expand globally the application of its own list of roughly 600 protected food names now honored by its member states. That list includes about 150 different types of cheeses, most from France, Italy, Greece and Spain.
What would become of that ubiquitous green cylinder of Kraft Grated Parmesan Cheese in the back of your refrigerator? Imagine "Kraft Grated Hard Cheese."
The WTO already recognizes such "geographical indications" for wine and spirits.
Think Champagne, which can only be labeled as such if it comes from the Champagne region of France. If it's from elsewhere, it's called "sparkling wine," "Blanc de Noir," "Blanc de Blanc," "Spumante," or something else. But not Champagne. The EU wants to extend such restrictions to the rest of the 600-odd names on its list.
But American producers are also dependent on the names, says the Grocery Manufacturers Association of America, which is working to defeat the proposal.
"It costs billions to make, market and brand a product," said Sarah Thorn, the association's director of international relations. "For our companies, the trademark is the most significant thing about a product."
This brouhaha has the makings of becoming the next trade battle between the EU and the United States, and may just be the latest manifestation of fundamental philosophical and cultural differences. Europe inclines toward preserving the past, the United States toward appropriation and reinvention.
If nothing in America is sacred, how can it be expected to consider European geographical names as taboo and off-limits? What would happen to Las Vegas if names such as "Paris" were suddenly verboten? Our entire postmodern way of life could be jeopardized, and that would be no gouda.
