EU Protected Food Names Scheme - objections to applications
For UK products
In compliance with Article 5.5 of Council Regulation (EC) 510/2006, once an application has been completed and submitted to the relevant department, it is necessary to consult interested parties within the UK providing them with an opportunity to comment or object to the application.
A national objection procedure is initiated where the application is made public, and anyone with a legitimate interest may lodge an objection to the application within the given timescale. Any objections must be admissible. The criteria for admissible objections is specified under Article 7.3 of Regulation 510/2006. The length of this objection period is 12 weeks.
Once any objections have been considered, Defra officials decide whether the application should be submitted to the Commission. If so, this decision will be made public, the final version of the application will be published, and a further opportunity for appeal provided. Comments must be received within 14 working days of publication.
Appeals should be addressed in writing to the relevant Government Departments (Defra/FFB, SEERAD, Welsh Assembly Government, DARDNI):
Objections to applications made by other member states or third countries
For objections from a natural or legal person based in a Member State the objection to an application must be submitted via the competent authority in the Member State. Where the natural or legal person is based in a third country the objection may be submitted to the Commission or via the authorities of the third country the objection may be submitted to the Commission or via the authorities of the third country concerned.
You are advised to consult the Official Journal of the European Communities for the authoritative text of those registered names published therein. For products originating from a Member State other than the UK, you are advised to consult the competent authority of the Member State referred to in the summary sheet for an authoritative interpretation of the text of that summary sheet.
If you require further information that is unavailable from the European Commission website, then please call – Defra – Food Chain Competitiveness and Organic Division on 020 7238 6075.
Inspection procedures - verification of compliance with specifications
Once a product is registered, it is necessary to ensure that verification of compliance with the product specification is being complied with.
The applicant is required to nominate an independent (private or public) inspection body which will undertake inspections for their product annually. The costs for such inspections are covered by the producer. The product certification bodies must be accredited in accordance with European standard EN 45011 or ISO/IEC guide 65. Examples of Inspection bodies are available.
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Page last modified: 23 August 2007