CHAPTER IIIGEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS
Article 24Application for registration of a geographical indication
1.
Applications for the registration of a geographical indication under this Chapter may only be submitted by groups who work with the spirit drink, the name of which is proposed for registration.
2.
An authority designated by F1the Secretary of State may, on application to the Secretary of State, be deemed to be a group for the purposes of this Chapter if it is not feasible for the producers concerned to form a group by reason of their number, geographical locations or organisational characteristics. In such case, the application F2... referred to in Article F323 shall state those reasons.
3.
A single natural or legal person may be deemed to be a group for the purpose of this Chapter if both of the following conditions are fulfilled:
(a)
the person concerned is the only producer willing to submit an application; and
(b)
the defined geographical area possesses characteristics which differ appreciably from those of neighbouring areas, the characteristics of the spirit drink are different from those produced in neighbouring areas or the spirit drink has a special quality, reputation or other characteristic which is clearly attributable to its geographical origin.
4.
In the case of a geographical indication that designates a cross-border geographical area, several groups from different F4... countries may submit a joint application for registration.
Where a joint application is submitted, it shall be submitted to the F5Secretary of State by an applicant group F6... or through the authorities F7of a third country concerned, after consultation, in both cases, of all the authorities and applicant groups concerned. F8... The requirements laid down in Article 23 shall be fulfilled F9, as relevant, in all the countries concerned.
In the case of joint applications, the related national opposition procedures shall be carried out in all the Member States concerned.
5.
F136.
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F137.
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8.
Where the application relates to a geographical area in a third country, the application shall be submitted to the F14Secretary of State, either directly or via the authorities of the third country concerned.
9.
The documents referred to in this Article which are sent to the F15Secretary of State shall be in one of the official languages of the Union.