Date: 24-Jan-2025Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/139 of 16 January 2025 granting protection in the Union to the Appellation of Origin Valais / Wallis 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) 2025/139 grants protection within the European Union to the Appellation of Origin ‘Valais / Wallis’, which is registered in the International Register of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications under the Geneva Act. This means that the name 'Valais / Wallis' as an Appellation of Origin for wine will be legally protected within the EU.
Key Changes
The regulation protects the name ‘Valais / Wallis’ as an Appellation of Origin in the Union.
The protected name identifies a product of the type ‘wine’.
The regulation is based on the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications.
The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization notified the Commission on 14 March 2024, that the name ‘Valais / Wallis’, applied by Switzerland, had been recorded as an Appellation of Origin.
The regulation enters into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Impact Analysis
Wine Producers in Valais/Wallis, Switzerland
Action Item: Ensure compliance with the regulations governing the use of the ‘Valais / Wallis’ Appellation of Origin to maintain its protected status.
Wine Producers in the EU
Action Item: Review product labeling and marketing materials to ensure compliance with the regulation and avoid using the protected name inappropriately.
Consumers
Benefit: Increased confidence in the quality and geographical origin of the product.
Enforcement Authorities in the EU
Action Item: Implement monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to prevent misuse of the protected name.
European Commission
Action Item: Monitor the effectiveness of the protection and address any issues related to enforcement or compliance.
Key Entities Referenced
European Commission: The executive branch of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU's day-to-day operations.
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): A global forum for intellectual property services, policy, information and cooperation. The International Bureau of WIPO manages the International Register of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications.
Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement: An international treaty that provides for the protection of appellations of origin and geographical indications through international registration.
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.
Valais / Wallis: An Appellation of Origin in Switzerland, specifically for wine.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/139 24.1.2025
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2025/139
of 16 January 2025
granting protection in the Union to the Appellation of Origin ‘Valais / Wallis’ 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 14 March 2024, the International Bureau of the World
Intellectual Property Organization notified the Commission that the name ‘Valais / Wallis’, applied by Switzerland,
had been recorded as an 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
‘Valais / Wallis’ was published in the Official Journal of the European Union(2) to enable possible oppositions to be
lodged.
(4) Pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1753, the Commission assessed the international registration of the
Appellation of Origin ‘Valais / Wallis’ 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
‘Valais / Wallis’ 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),
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
(1) OJ L 271, 24.10.2019, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1753/oj.
(2) OJ C, C/2024/2687, 12.4.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/2687/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/2025/139/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 24.1.2025
Article 1
The name ‘Valais / Wallis’, 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 ‘wine’.
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, 16 January 2025.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/139/oj