The Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma has achieved two highly significant successes in protecting the PDO in foreign markets, reaffirming the importance of the enforcement activities the producer Group has been carrying out for more than 60 years.
The first case concerned Malta, where the Consorzio identified serious irregularities involving pre-sliced products. In the cases at issue, the product was packaged at local facilities and unlawfully labelled “Prosciutto di Parma”, in violation of the PDO product specification which clearly establish that pre-sliced Prosciutto di Parma in trays may only be sliced and packaged in authorized facilities located within the traditional production area in the province of Parma, under the supervision of the Delegated Body.
The result obtained by the Consorzio in Brazil, one of the most challenging markets for the protection of Parma Ham, is also very significant. In Brazil, the process for PDO recognition and trademark registration has not yet been completed, making robust enforcement measures essential. Central to the dispute are several Brazilian trademark applications containing references to the term “Parma,” which pose a direct risk to the integrity and exclusivity of the PDO.
For full details, please read the Consorzio’s press release here.
