Appellation of origin

Quick Facts: Who was Appellation of origin?

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Appellation of origin

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A name or sign identifying a product's source due to its geographical origin.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign protected by intellectual property used on products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g., a town or region) and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. The use of a geographical indication, as an indication of the product's source, is intended as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a good reputation due to its geographical origin. A geographical indication differs from an appelation of origin (also referred to as a designation of origin) since the latter is a special type of geographical indication where the link with the place of origin must be stronger and it requires more criteria for recognition. For a GI the geographical link is more flexible, since it is sufficient for only one characteristic of the product to be attributable to its geographical origin. Article 22.1 of the TRIPS Agreement from 1995 defines geographical indications as "...indications which identify a good as originating in the territory of a Member [of the World Trade Organization], or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographical origin." The Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications, adopted in 2015 and in force since 2020, modernized the Lisbon System, formally incorporated a definition of geographical indication consistent with TRIPS standard.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Article 2(1)(ii) of the Geneva Act defines a GI as: "any indication protected in the Contracting Party of Origin consisting of or containing the name of a geographical area, or another indication known as referring to such area, which identifies a good as originating in that geographical area, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographical origin." Governments have protected trade names and trademarks of food products identified with a particular region since at least the end of the 19th century, using laws against false trade descriptions or passing off, which generally protects against suggestions that a product has a certain protection benefits. One of the first GI systems is the one used in France from the early part of the 20th century known as appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC). The first law in France explicitly dedicated to the protection of appellations of origin was the Law of 6 May 1919 (Loi du 6 mai 1919 relative à la protection des Appellations d’Origin) which left to the courts the determination of the areas of production of an AO, but without defining the term. The decret-law of 30 July 1935 (Decret-Loi 30 Juillet 1935, Défense du marché des vins et régime économique de l’alcool) introduced the concept of Appellations d’Origine Contrôllées as a kind of AO; it also stablished the Comité National des Appellations d’Origine (CNAO) the administrative precedent of the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO). In French system, Items that meet geographical origin and quality standards may be endorsed with a government-issued stamp which acts as official certification of the origins and standards of the product.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Examples of products that have such "appellations of origin" include Gruyère cheese (from Switzerland) and many French wines. Parallel to French initiatives, in 1924, Italy enacted its first decret on protection of "typical wines" (vini tipici) through the consortia for the protection of wine (consorzi di tutela). The statutes of the consortia had to be ratified by the Ministry of Agriculture that also had to monitor them. This decret didn't define de concept of designation but the one of typical wine: "typical wines are the genuine wines whose characteristics result from the type of grapevines, the zone of production or the methods of production and that remain identical for the same type of wine".Later in 1930, a law stablished that soil and climate conditions gave the wine its typical features. Finally, in 1963 the decret "on the protection of the designations of origin of musts and wines" abandoned the category of vini tipici and introduced three protection labels: Denominazione d’Origine Semplice (DOS); Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC); and Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1919: 1919 Milestone — The first law in France explicitly dedicated to the protection of appellations of origin was the Law of 6 May 1919 (Loi du 6 mai 1919 relative à la protection des Appellations d’Origin) which left to the courts the determination of the areas of production of an AO, but without defining the term.
2. 1924: 1924 Milestone — Parallel to French initiatives, in 1924, Italy enacted its first decret on protection of "typical wines" (vini tipici) through the consortia for the protection of wine (consorzi di tutela).
3. 1930: 1930 Milestone — Later in 1930, a law stablished that soil and climate conditions gave the wine its typical features.
4. 1935: 1935 Milestone — The decret-law of 30 July 1935 (Decret-Loi 30 Juillet 1935, Défense du marché des vins et régime économique de l’alcool) introduced the concept of Appellations d’Origine Contrôllées as a kind of AO; it also stablished the Comité National des Appellations d’Origine (CNAO) the administrative precedent of the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO).
5. 1963: 1963 Milestone — Finally, in 1963 the decret "on the protection of the designations of origin of musts and wines" abandoned the category of vini tipici and introduced three protection labels: Denominazione d’Origine Semplice (DOS); Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC); and Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG).
6. 1995: 1995 Milestone — 1 of the TRIPS Agreement from 1995 defines geographical indications as "...
7. 2015: 2015 Milestone — " The Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications, adopted in 2015 and in force since 2020, modernized the Lisbon System, formally incorporated a definition of geographical indication consistent with TRIPS standard.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Appellation of origin

True or False: “The initial French system for protecting appellations of origin was established before the 20th century.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): France's first explicit law dedicated to the protection of appellations of origin was passed in 1919.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Appellation of origin