More commercial disputes to rise around food labelling?

Published on 9 Aug 2010 under category: legal

More food manufacturers could go into commercial disputes to get protected status for their products.
Food minister Jim Paice has said that retailers and manufacturers should do more to promote British-made products.
On a visit to Melton Mowbray, home of the famous British pie brand, he commented: "I'm calling on the industry to work with us to ensure that people can be confident about the origin of the products they buy."
Producers in Melton Mowbray have two protected products – meat and Stilton.
Meat and dairy products were singled out by the secretary, who said that consumers were most baffled about the provenance of these foods.
More firms may go after protected status and become embroiled in commercial disputes in a bid to protect their brand.
Companies that fail to trademark their products could find themselves losing out on revenues.
In June, law expert Mark Hilton said in an interview with the Telegraph that manufacturers placed themselves at risk by not acquiring intellectual property rights.
"Brands compete in an extremely competitive marketplace, all trying to get shelf space in supermarkets, so having well-known and well-trusted brands is absolutely essential," he warned firms.

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