Illustrative stock photo (source: SME)
Several spirits produced in Slovakia have been left out of the database of geographical indications protected in the European Union, updated by the European Commission in early July, the Denník N daily reported.
This includes Demänovka and Demänovka bylinná horká (herbal liquers), Karpatské brandy špeciál, Slovenská borovička (gin-like spirit), Bošácka slivovica (plum brandy), and Laugarício vodka. As a result, Slovakia now has only one listing in the database, which is Spišská borovička (gin-like spirit), whose producer (Gas Familia) met the deadline for submitting necessary documents.
Though it does not mean their production will stop, the rights for their production will not be linked to a specific country or region, i.e. their producers will be able to use any ingredients they want, Denník N wrote.
Slovakia, however, was not the only country to see the spirits be left out of the database. Together 87 spirit drinks were removed, Ingrid Ludviková of the EC Representation Office in Slovakia told the daily.
The spirits produced in Slovakia were listed in the geographical indications database during the accession talks with the EU. They agreed on listing 10 spirits. At the time they did not discuss the requirements for registration or concurrence of the geographical indication and the trademark registration, said Jarmila Halgašová of the Food Chamber of Slovakia.
“The requirements on documents the producers have to submit to the European Commission with the application for registration, as well as conditions for the potential co-existence of the geographical indication and trademark designation were changed in 2008 as part of the new regulation,” Halgašová told Denník N.
Though Slovak producers have been asked to submit the documents, they have not used this possibility, Jana Gasperová of the Agriculture Ministry told the daily.
Many of them did it on purpose as they did not consider it beneficial. For them, it is probably better to have trademark registration, Halgašová explained to Denník N.
