Date: 31-Oct-2024Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2768 of 30 October 2024 granting protection in the Union to the Appellation of Origin Tête de Moine / Tête de Moine, Fromage de Bellelay registered in the International Register of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications of the Geneva Act
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2768 grants protection within the European Union to the Appellation of Origin ‘Tête de Moine / Tête de Moine, Fromage de Bellelay’, a cheese product registered in the International Register of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications of the Geneva Act.
Key Changes
The regulation formally protects the name ‘Tête de Moine / Tête de Moine, Fromage de Bellelay’ within the EU, preventing its misuse or imitation by unauthorized producers.
The protection is based on the registration of the appellation of origin in the International Register under the Geneva Act, following an application by Switzerland.
No oppositions were received during the period following the publication of the international registration in the Official Journal of the European Union.
The regulation is directly applicable in all EU Member States and entered into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union on October 31, 2024.
Impact Analysis
Stakeholders: Swiss Cheese Producers
Action Item: Producers should ensure their products meet the specifications of the protected Appellation of Origin to maintain eligibility for the protected status.
Stakeholders: EU Cheese Producers
Action Item: EU cheese producers should review their product lines and marketing materials to ensure compliance with the regulation and avoid using the protected name for non-compliant products.
Stakeholders: Consumers
Action Item: Consumers can look for the protected designation of origin label when purchasing ‘Tête de Moine / Tête de Moine, Fromage de Bellelay’ to ensure authenticity.
Stakeholders: EU Member States
Action Item: Member States should update their national laws and regulations to reflect the protected status of ‘Tête de Moine / Tête de Moine, Fromage de Bellelay’ and implement measures to prevent infringement.
Key Entities Referenced
European Commission: The executive branch of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the day-to-day business of the EU. The Commission adopted this regulation.
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): A global forum for intellectual property services, policy, information and cooperation. The International Bureau of WIPO notified the Commission of the registration.
Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement: An international treaty that provides for the international registration of appellations of origin and geographical indications. This regulation implements the EU's obligations under the Geneva Act.
Regulation (EU) 2019/1753: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the action of the Union following its accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1143: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products.
Quality Policy Committee for agricultural products, wine and spirit drinks: A committee that provides opinions on measures related to quality policy for agricultural products, wine, and spirit drinks. This committee provided an opinion in accordance with which the measures in this Regulation were taken.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2024/2768 31.10.2024
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2024/2768
of 30 October 2024
granting protection in the Union to the Appellation of Origin ‘Tête de Moine / Tête de Moine,
Fromage de Bellelay’ registered in the International Register of Appellations of Origin and
Geographical Indications of the Geneva Act
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/1753 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019on the
action of the Union following its accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and
Geographical Indications(1), and in particular Article 7(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) In accordance with Article 5(1) and (2) of the Geneva Act, the Competent Authorities of each Contracting Party to
the Geneva Act may file applications for international registration of an appellation of origin or geographical
indication with the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization, which registers it in the
International Register in accordance with Article 6 of the Geneva Act. In accordance with Article 9 of the Geneva
Act, the other Contracting Parties shall protect registered appellations of origin and geographical indications within
their own legal system subject to any refusal, renunciation, invalidation or cancellation.
(2) In accordance with Article 6(4) of the Geneva Act, on 29 November 2023, the International Bureau of the World
Intellectual Property Organization notified the Commission that the name ‘Tête de Moine / Tête de Moine, Fromage
de Bellelay’, applied by Switzerland, had been recorded as Appellation of Origin in the International Register of
Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications under the Geneva Act.
(3) Pursuant to Article 4(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1753, the international registration of the Appellation of Origin
‘Tête de Moine / Tête de Moine, Fromage de Bellelay’ was published in the Official Journal of the European Union(2)to
enable possible opposition to be lodged.
(4) Pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1753, the Commission assessed the international registration of the
Appellation of Origin ‘Tête de Moine / Tête de Moine, Fromage de Bellelay’ against the conditions laid down in that
Article and concluded that they are fulfilled.
(5) As no opposition under Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1753 has been received by the Commission, the name
‘Tête de Moine / Tête de Moine, Fromage de Bellelay’ should be protected in the Union, in accordance with the
Geneva Act.
(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Quality Policy Committee for
agricultural products, wine and spirit drinks under Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of
the Council(3),
(1) OJ L 271, 24.10.2019, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1753/oj.
(2) OJ C, C/2023/1496, 12.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2023/1496/oj.
(3) Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on geographical indications for wine,
spirit drinks and agricultural products, as well as traditional specialities guaranteed and optional quality terms for agricultural
products, amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2019/787 and (EU) 2019/1753 and repealing Regulation (EU)
No 1151/2012 (OJ L, 2024/1143, 23.4.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1143/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2024/2768/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 31.10.2024
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
The name ‘Tête de Moine / Tête de Moine, Fromage de Bellelay’, registered as Appellation of Origin in the International
Register, shall be protected in the Union.
The name referred to in the first paragraph identifies a product of the type ‘cheese’.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 30 October 2024.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2024/2768/oj