Article 17U.K.Registration of geographical indications
1.An application for a geographical indication to be registered in Annex III shall be submitted to the Commission in one of the official languages of the European Union or accompanied by a translation into one of those languages. That application shall be duly substantiated and shall include a technical file setting out the specifications with which the spirit drink concerned must comply.
2.With regard to geographical indications within the Community, the application referred to in paragraph 1 shall be made by the Member State of origin of the spirit drink.
3.With regard to geographical indications within a third country, the application referred to in paragraph 1 shall be sent to the Commission, either directly or via the authorities of the third country concerned, and shall include proof that the name in question is protected in its country of origin.
4.The technical file referred to in paragraph 1 shall include at least the following main specifications:
(a)the name and category of the spirit drink including the geographical indication;
(b)a description of the spirit drink including the principal physical, chemical and/or organoleptic characteristics of the product as well as the specific characteristics of the spirit drink as compared to the relevant category;
(c)the definition of the geographical area concerned;
(d)a description of the method for obtaining the spirit drink and, if appropriate, the authentic and unvarying local methods;
(e)the details bearing out the link with the geographical environment or the geographical origin;
(f)any requirements laid down by Community and/or national and/or regional provisions;
(g)the name and contact address of the applicant;
(h)any supplement to the geographical indication and/or any specific labelling rule, according to the relevant technical file.
5.The Commission shall verify, within 12 months of the date of submission of the application referred to in paragraph 1, whether that application complies with this Regulation.
6.If the Commission concludes that the application referred to in paragraph 1 complies with this Regulation, the main specifications of the technical file referred to in paragraph 4 shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, C Series.
7.Within six months of the date of publication of the technical file, any natural or legal person that has a legitimate interest may object to the registration of the geographical indication in Annex III on the grounds that the conditions provided for in this Regulation are not fulfilled. The objection, which must be duly substantiated, shall be submitted to the Commission in one of the official languages of the European Union or accompanied by a translation into one of those languages.
8.The Commission shall take the decision on registration of the geographical indication in Annex III in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 25(3), taking into account any objection raised in accordance with paragraph 7 of this Article. That decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, C Series.