Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
(c) Third country applications
Article 26(1) provides that a group from a third country may submit such names
to the Commission, either directly or through the authorities of the third
country.
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(d) Publication of application
Article 26(1) provides that the name, together with the specifications for each
such name is published in the
Official Journal of the European Union
within two
months from reception.
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T. OPTIONAL QUALITY TERMS
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Recital (44) to the Regulation proposes that a second tier of quality systems,
based on quality terms which add value, should be introduced. Those optional
quality terms should refer to specific horizontal characteristics, with regard to
one or more categories of products, farming methods or processing attributes
which apply in specific areas.
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The scheme for the protection of Optional Quality Terms is contained in Title
IV of the Regulation.
1. Objective
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Article 27 provides that a scheme for optional quality terms is established in
order to facilitate the communication within the internal market of the value-
adding characteristics or attributes of agricultural products by the producers
thereof.
2. National rules
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Article 28 permits Member States to maintain national rules on optional
quality terms which are not covered by the Regulation, 'provided that such rules
comply with Union law'.
3. Criteria for optional quality terms
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Article 29(1) provides that optional quality terms shall satisfy the following
criteria:
