EU lawmakers want brand names for local goods

EU lawmakers on Tuesday said the bloc should extend the use of geographic brand names from agricultural goods to manufactured products to give local economies a boost.

Up to now, the 28-nation European Union has designated well known foods and drinks with what is known as a "Geographical Indication" to highlight their local source and economic and cultural importance.

Among the latest put on the list, one can find for example 'Citron Menton,' lemons from the southern French city, or 'Cappellacci di zucca Ferraresi,' a type of stuffed pasta from the famed Italian region.

Now the European Parliament wants to go further, voting overwhelmingly Tuesday for a non-binding resolution asking the European Commission to extend the system to goods such as 'Scottish tartan' or 'Carrara marble'.

"I welcome Parliament’s broad support for the call for better protection of local know-how," said French Socialist MEP Virginie Roziere who put up the resolution.

"Extending EU-wide protection of geographical indications would be beneficial not only for consumers, but also for tourism, culture, employment and trade," Roziere said in a Parliament statement.

The EU commissioner for consumer affairs, Vera Jourova, said extending the system could be of great benefit to local manufacturers but its cost and benefits would have to be "closely examined."

The list of GI products covered can be seen at http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html