Geographic indications: EU threat to Australian dairy

Australia’s dairy industry is stressing it’s “absolutely opposed” to restrictions on the use of branded names such as Greek yoghurt and parmesan cheese.

AUSTRALIAN dairy leaders will hold urgent meetings with the Federal Government this week to emphasise the sector is “absolutely opposed” to restrictions on the use of popular branded names such as Greek yoghurt and parmesan cheese.

There is pressure on Australia to trade off some of the nation’s Australia’s best-loved cheese varieties as part of negotiations with the European Union for a free-trade deal.

The EU this week released a list of 236 geographical indications, or branded place names, it wants protected for use only by regions sharing the same name.

Regionally specific names such as gruyere, taleggio and gorgonzola cheese are on the list, while restrictions could also apply to some types of haloumi, feta, yoghurt and parmesan cheese, which have specific regional references.

Evocation, such as the use of flags or Greek-style writing, for example, could also be limited if the EU gets its way in the negotiations.

Australian Dairy Farmers’ chief executive officer David Inall said any move to restrict the use of cultural or regional references in dairy branding were “potentially a game changer” for the Australian dairy industry. Of the 236 product names on the EU list, more than 70 relate to dairy.

Mr Inall said Australian-made dairy products enjoyed annual sales of $650 million, but many of those products were at commercial risk if branding regulations changed.

“There are many boutique cheese manufacturers in Australia who have a rich cultural history, who have built these brands up over many years and a change like this would be devastating for those businesses,” Mr Inall said.

“We’re not saying there’s a negotiation to be had here.

“Currently we are absolutely opposed to having those names restricted.

“The last thing we need to see is demand for Australian dairy farmers milk tailing away due to a restriction on the use of these names.”

The Government has so far made no commitment to the EU to protect specific GIs.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said the Government was seeking the views of producers and businesses.

“Australians can be confident that we will drive a very hard bargain … to achieve an overall agreement that delivers more opportunity for Australian farmers and businesses. Ultimately, we will only do this deal if overall it is in Australia’s interests to do so,” he said.