The New Community Regulation on Quality Schemes for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs – Obligations and Opportunities for Producers

Abstract

The contribution deals with the changes which the new Regulation No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs brings to the Czech law system. This Regulation cancelled and replaced the hitherto valid EU regulation in the area of protection of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) with agricultural products and foodstuffs. This regulation reflects the effort of the EU to support the development of PDO, PGI and TSG at Union level and to ensure their protection in third countries within the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The producers of foodstuffs and agricultural products labelled PDO, PGI and TSG meet the demands of consumers for quality foodstuffs with clearly declared geographical origin. The quality schemes for foodstuffs can thus contribute to the development of rural areas, provide producers with the right tools to better identify and promote their products and protect those producers against unfair practice.