China recognizes the uniqueness of Prosecco, and rejects the Australians

Australia had opposed the registration of the Prosecco brand in China, which however proved the Treviso Consortium right. A first Prosek case, which saw the Treviso consortium win

CONEGLIANO. Another Prošek case? Something similar, but with China that would protect Prosecco better than the European Union; if, at least, Brussels accepts the Croatian request to recognize Dalmatian wine which has nothing to do with bubbles. The Chinese trademark office (in the initials Cnipa) has in fact rejected the Australian appeal against the “Prosecco” trademark, filed in Beijing by the Consortium chaired by Stefano Zanette, on the grounds that it is – Prosecco, in fact – a geographical indication and that therefore «it is suitable to perform the function of trademark in order to distinguish the origin of the products».

As far back as 2014, the Protection Consortium, to guarantee the protection of the denomination, deposited its logo in China. Following publication, the Consortium received a opposition from Australian wine producers represented by the Australian grape ande wine incorporated, aimed at hindering the protection of the Ig (geographical indication) Prosecco. The opposition was in fact aimed at not having the trademark recognized and at preventing its registration.

Well, Cnipa has now dismissed this appeal. The success is recognized at the most authoritative levels by the Ambassador of Italy to the People’s Republic of China, Luca Ferrari, who in a letter sent to President Zanette expresses his “personal congratulations for the positive conclusion of the procedure in question, which represents a forward in the defense of the “Prosecco” denomination in this country. This is an excellent result obtained thanks to the constant synergy between the Italian embassy in Beijing, the Italian institutions on the national territory and the Consortium ».

Zanette’s response was ready and, thanking the ambassador, confirms that “the success of the operation must be ascribed to the constant protection work carried out by the Consortium, supported by the great collaboration of the Italian embassy in Beijing and the European Commission who with their contribution have helped the Consortium to achieve this important international result, demonstrating once again how successful the synergy between public and private institutions is ». And now it’s obviously up to the European Commission. In this case, in truth, it is the Prosecco System, supported by the Italian government and the Veneto and Fvg regions that oppose Zagreb’s request to recognize Prošek. Will Europe respond like Beijing?