§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the implications for the naming of Stilton cheese if the Council of Ministers accepts the Borgo report.
§ Mr. GummerThe report of the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development on the Commission's proposal for a council regulation on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (the Borgo report) has not yet been considered by the plenary session of the European Parliament. It remains unclear whether the Commission's original proposal or the recommendations of the Borgo report, if acceptable, would have any effect on the naming of Stilton or whether Stilton producers would be able to seek protection for the name Stilton under the terms of the proposed regulation, since Stilton cheese is not produced in Stilton.
However, Stilton is already protected by a registered trade mark belonging to the Stilton Cheesemakers' Association, and can be used to describe only a product made in the three counties of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, which do not encompass the village of Stilton. Under the Commission proposals as they now stand, it would not be possible to register a geographical name which conflicts with a registered trade mark.