Geographical Indications Law in Finland
In Finland, the protection of Geographical Indications (GIs) is primarily governed by European Union (EU) legislation, as Finland is an EU member state. Hereβs a summary of how Geographical Indications law operates in Finland:
π 1. Legal Framework
Since Finland is part of the European Union, it follows EU regulations related to geographical indications:
π·οΈ Main EU Regulations:
Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 on wine sector GIs
Regulation (EU) No 110/2008 on spirit drinks (replaced by Regulation (EU) 2019/787)
These regulations protect:
Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)
Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG)
βοΈ 2. National Authority in Finland
The key Finnish authority for GI applications and enforcement is:
Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto)
Website: https://www.ruokavirasto.fi
They are responsible for:
Processing GI applications
Verifying compliance with product specifications
Communicating with EU bodies on behalf of Finnish producers
π§ 3. Examples of Finnish GIs
Some products from Finland protected under EU GI schemes include:
| Product Name | GI Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lapin Puikula | PDO | A traditional potato from Lapland |
| Karjalanpiirakka | TSG | Karelian pasty, a traditional Finnish pie |
| Kalakukko | TSG | Fish-filled rye bread |
π‘οΈ 4. Protection and Enforcement
Enforcement is done through Finnish authorities and EU-wide mechanisms.
Infringement of a GI can lead to legal actions such as:
Cease and desist orders
Fines
Possible criminal liability in severe cases
π 5. Registration Process (for Producers)
Steps to register a GI in Finland:
Submit application to the Finnish Food Authority
National scrutiny and consultation
Submission to the European Commission
EU scrutiny and publication in the Official Journal of the EU
Protection is granted if no objections are raised
π Summary
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Law Basis | EU Regulations (mainly Regulation 1151/2012) |
| National Authority | Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto) |
| Protection Type | PDO, PGI, TSG |
| Key Products | Lapin Puikula, Karjalanpiirakka, Kalakukko |
| Enforcement | By Finnish authorities & EU legal framework |
RELATED Blog
0 comments