A number of European countries are looking to restrict the use of cheese names such as parmesan and feta under geographic locations.
The move is being proposed under the Lisbon agreement which is a pact between 28 countries which aims to protect a general list of food names. Should the restrictions pass, it would see cheese products take a similar route as Champagne and Scotch Whisky, meaning that only products from specified geographic locations can be sold and marketed under particular names.
An Australian federal government delegation was present at a meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organisation in Geneva last week where the issue was discussed, The Weekly Times reports.
The Australian dairy industry says that such restrictions would have serious implications on the nation’s cheese exports and although Australia is not a signatory to the Lisbon agreement, officials are requesting for a right to vote on the proposal.
Together with Australia, Israel, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Panama, US, Canada, Japan and Uruguay have all expressed concern at the proposed changes, and backed Australia’s voting request.
Negotiations will continue in May, 2015.