Italy: A new attack by Cyprus on the protection of the brand Balsamic Vinegar IGP

Until recently, it was believed that the designations of origin at least within the borders of the community could sleep peacefully. That in particular the institute of ex officio protection (the one that obliges the institutions of the member states to intervene in the presence of an attempt to counterfeit a PDO or PGI product, even if it is foreign) guaranteed effective protection. But beliefs are meant to be quickly disproved. And so in a few months the Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Igp, one of the champions of the EU made in Italy brands with a consumer turnover exceeding one billion euros and a propensity to export over 90%, suffered two attacks and by other EU countries. The Consortium for the protection of IGP vinegar in fact became aware last September 7, and by an absolutely informal and casual way, of the fact that since June 22 last year Cyprus has notified the European Commission a change to its food laws, introducing the possibility to call a mixture of vinegar, grape ...