Conegliano, Unioncamere also opposes Prošek

The problem is not only for producers, but also for consumers. “Very serious damage is done to them – explains Pozza – because with this protection there is the risk of deceiving whoever thinks of consuming a wine and, instead, is drinking another one which, however, has a practically specular name”. It is an aspect that may seem trivial, but in reality – Pozza warns – the so-called “Italian sounding” uses these techniques to deceive the consumer, just think of the now famous Parmesan. This is why consumers play a central role in our opposition because a legitimate interest is also valid for them ».

Consumer associations bear the legitimate interest of those who drink Prosecco not to be misled when purchasing the product, since the traditional Prošek term could confuse them, making them believe they are buying bubbles. Among other reasons, as explained in the opposition, the two terms are essentially the translation of each other: however, while the term Prosecco even identifies three PDOs long recognized by the European Union, Prošek does not enjoy awards of this kind.

The Croatian Prošek can therefore easily evoke the Italian Prosecco wine in the average European consumer. The president of the Chamber of Commerce reminds us that by doing this we are defending a product that is an excellence of the territory with important repercussions on the economic system and behind which there is the history and identity of a territory. In fact, the toponym of this wine can already be found at the beginning of the sixteenth century in literary studies of a certain weight. «For the territory Prosecco has a value that goes beyond the wine sector in fact it means tourism, territorial marketing, sporting and cultural events and involves institutions, producers, entrepreneurs and workers. If the mention “Prošek” passes, it will create not only a precedent, but damage to the economy of this territory and to one of the symbols of Made in Italy in the world. This is why we are alongside the Region in the battle it is carrying out for Prosecco ».

The opposition was signed by Unioncamere del Veneto, by all the Chambers of Commerce of the Veneto, by the Chambers of Commerce of Venezia Giulia and of Pordenone-Udine, as well as by various consumer associations present in the area (Adiconsum Veneto, Adiconsum Belluno – Treviso , Adiconsum, Adiconsum Verona, Federconsumatori Venezia APS, Movimento Consumatori Verona, ADOC Veneto, ADOC Padova) and whose representatives sit on the Chamber Councils. To prepare the opposition, Unioncamere del Veneto was assisted by the law firm DFA, with the lawyers Alberto Dal Ferro, Andrea Cevese and Fiorella Dal Monte.