Mevhibe Albayrak* and Erdo an Gunes
Due to the increasing competition in the world market, it has become more difficult for firms to continue to exist in the market. Relatively larger firms enjoy a greater pool of advantages, such as cost minimization, use of modern technology, qualified personnel as well as customer oriented marketing strategies. Geographical indications are used worldwide as an instrument for brand management and diversifying products. In the EU (European Union), too, efforts continue to protect products through registration of geographical origin and traditional indication. The main aim of this study is to illustrate the practices of EU countries with respect to geographical indication of traditional foods, which is of importance especially to future members of the expanding EU while adapting their own registration systems. To this purpose, the GI system and practices in the EU are analyzed. Of the products with PDO and PGI protection, 24% are in the fruit-vegetable/grain products group, 20% in the cheese group, 26% in the fresh meat group and oil group. The database and the classification of geographical indications in the EU are determined and are found to be rather different from those of other countries, such as Turkey.
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