INDICATIVE SIGNS - STANDARD OF QUALITY AND ORIGIN OF PRODUCTS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

The study proposes an analysis of the main signs that define the quality, origin and production methods of food products and not only those that are regulated and protected in the European Union. After clarifying the notion of indicative sign, without entering the polemic regarding their legal nature, the importance of indicative signs will be highlighted and the definitions for each of these signs will be analysed in light of the international treaties and regulations at European Union level, in order to highlight the legal regime of each of them, the similarities and differences between them and to conclude on the importance of their protection in the European Union.

Keywords

• geographical indications
• designations of origin
• names of traditional specialties guaranteed
• mountain product
• generic indications
• indicative signs