Protect a traditional term for a wine product
How to apply for UK protection of a traditional term for a wine product and get it added to the UK traditional terms register.
A traditional term is a mark of distinctiveness and quality. You can apply to protect a traditional term for a wine product from misuse or imitation.
No one owns the traditional term once it’s registered, but a producer must use it according to the conditions under which it is registered.
A traditional term must:
- be widely known
- have a significant economic impact on the wine product it’s associated with
Who can apply
You can apply to protect a traditional term if you’re a:
- a competent authority of the home country
- professional body in the wine sector that represents two-thirds of wine producers and production in the area it operates
Categories eligible for a traditional term
You can apply to protect a traditional term for either of the following reasons.
Replace an existing geographical indication (GI) protection
You can apply to protect a traditional term to replace an existing GI category name. For example, ‘Vin de Pays’ or ‘Appellation d’origine contrôlée’ are traditional terms used on wines that are produced in a large area of the country of origin.
You must be able to show the wine product has a protected designation of origin (PDO) or protected geographical indication (PGI) in its country of origin. Read the guide on Protected geographical food and drink names: UK GI schemes for more details.
Add traditional characteristics
You can apply to protect a traditional term on a product in addition to a PDO or PGI name if it’s used to describe:
- a distinctive production or ageing process
- the quality or colour of the wine
- a notable place of production
- an event linked to the history of the product with a PDO or PGI
A term you apply to register must not be generic and must either have been:
- used traditionally for at least 5 years in a large part of the country of origin
- traded as a reputable name for at least 15 years in the country of origin
How to apply
To apply for a traditional term you need to:
- complete an application form
- provide any relevant evidence to support you application
Applicant details
You must include the name of:
- the competent authority or professional body
- the lead contact or representative (you need to provide evidence of their status)
- contact details of the lead contact (full address, telephone number and email address)
Traditional term to protect
State the traditional term you are applying to protect.
The term should be provided in the language you want it protected. This is either:
- its country of origin
- the country it’s to be traded in
Traditional term category
State which category your traditional term is from. Refer to the section ‘Categories eligible for a traditional term’.
If the product already has PDO or PGI protection, you must:
- state which protection it has
- give details of its PDO or PGI designation
Wine category
You must state which category of wine you’re applying to protect with a traditional term, for example:
- wine (red, white, rosé)
- sparkling or semi-sparkling wine
- fortified wine
- liqueur wine
- wine vinegar
Conditions of use
Explain the specific details for using the traditional term. For example, if it describes the ageing process, you need to say what special conditions or time period apply.
Submit your application
Email your application form and supporting evidence to: ukgiapplications@defra.gov.uk.
Consultation period
Your application is assessed and published on GOV.UK if it meets the scheme’s requirements.
If your application is not acceptable, the competent authority will tell you why. You can resubmit your application with the necessary amendments.
Interested parties will have 2 months from the date of publication to consider the application and if necessary raise an objection. The competent authority will decide if the objection is valid and tell you. You will have 2 months from being told to respond to the objection.
If there are several objections and one or more is seen to be valid, the competent authority may decide it’s not possible to accept your application.
It can suspend the objection process from progressing further to make a decision on your application. If the competent authority then rejects your application, it will stop the objection process and tell the objector(s) concerned.
Results
The competent authority will approve your application if:
- no objection was made at consultation stage
- an objection was not accepted
- agreement was reached and only minor changes were required
The competent authority can make the final decision where agreement could not be reached between you and the person making the objection.
The competent authority will tell you if your application was successful or not before it publishes the results. If your application is rejected, you can appeal against the decision.
Traditional term registration and protection
When your traditional term is approved, it’s added to the UK traditional terms register. The traditional term is protected indefinitely, as long as you:
- comply with the terms of the definition
- maintain the conditions of its use