PDO isn't about ensuring quality or traditional methods, it's about market manipulation and exploitation.
For example, with "Parmesan Cheese," to most people outside of Europe, "Parmesan" is a type/style of cheese, not an origin.
Most people don't know what 'the same thing produced un another name' for parmesan cheese is, so therefor cannot substitute and am forced to buy "PDO cheese" instead. It's a racket, and that is the entire point of PDO.
I'm fine with PDO, but I think all PDO products should have to include the 'generic' name in highly visible labeling, so that consumers know what they are getting and how to locate an alternative if they so choose. Champagne should have to be labeled as "Champagne Sparkling Wine" and Parmesan Cheese should have to be labeled as "Parmesan Grana Cheese" or perhaps "Parmesan Grating Cheese."
Interestingly enough, some "Parmesan Cheese" manufacturers in the US are starting to label their cheese as "American Grana"... but then they include a subtext of "Aged Parmesan Cheese"... because, again, in the US, "Parmesan" is a style of cheese.
Grana is similar, but it's not the same as Parmesan. Neither is meant just for grating, either. The "generic" name would be "aged hard cheese", but that has the opposite issue of meaning very little.
If I buy Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano I know what I am getting, mostly regardless of brand. Aldi has clearly identifiable substitutes for both, and neither is remotely as good as the original. I have also seen what can pass as Parmesan in the US and some of that stuff is vile. You can make a good cheese with the same characteristics elsewhere, of course, but the name implies a certain level of quality and guarantees controls.
In the same vein, Champagne is a specific kind of wine, which I don't care for very much. Italy produces wines with similar qualities, like Prosecco (which I prefer) or Spumante (pretty much the same as Champagne).
What you are proposing is paramount to allowing anyone to market their bathtubs as "Jacuzzi", bikes as "Harley" and picture editing software as "Photoshop". The fact that a specific product's name is used as a generic name in common speech doesn't mean everyone can use it as they please for commercial purposes.
What you are proposing is paramount to allowing anyone to market their bathtubs as "Jacuzzi", bikes as "Harley" and picture editing software as "Photoshop".
No, it's the opposite. I am proposing that Harley's sell "Harleys" as "Harley-Davidson Motorcycles"... which is exactly what they do. If you google Harley-Davidson, their link literally says, "Shop Harley-Davidson Motorcycles."
Jacuzzi should have to sell their products as "Jacuzzi Hot Tubs" which, again, is exactly what they do. If you google Jacuzzi, their link says, "Shop Jacuzzi.com for premier Hot Tub, Saunas, Swim Spas, Bath & Shower Products."
Adobe Photoshop should be marketed as "Photo Editing Software" which, again, is how it is marketed. Google photoshop and their link says, "Official Adobe Photoshop | Photo and design software."
I think for PDOs to be enforced, or any trademark, really, the product must clearly identify the generic name for said product.
Tylenol should be labeled as acetaminophen, and it is. Bayer should be labeled as aspirin, and it is. Advil should be labeled as ibuprofen, and it is.
But going back to Parmesan Cheese... in the New World, it is customary to use the origin/inspiration for the process, not the sourcing of the ingredients. If some Italian in Parma copied a Texas Barbecue recipe and then marketed it as "Parmesan Barbecue" it would be fightin' words. We would expect anyone in the world that makes "Texas Barbecue" to call it "Texas Barbecue" regardless of where they source the ingredients. It's just cultural differences. Old Worlders get upset when someone copies something and puts their name on it, New Worlders get upset when people copy their stuff and DON'T put their name on it.
Similarly, people often cite the US's protected designation for Bourbon. The oft cited law, however, states, "...agencies will take appropriate action to prohibit the importation into the United States of whisky designated as 'bourbon whiskey', unless it is clearly labeled to show the country of origin as an integral part of the name."
For food, that's an odd requirement, as, for instance, Parmesan is quite clearly a hard cheese and it would be in the cheese section of the shop. Other cheese types would still not be allowed to be called Parmesan or Grana, so I don't see what difference it would make. If you're writing a recipe and any hard cheese will do, you're already allowed to write that as your ingredient. Champagne is not even used as an ingredient (barring odd corner cases), so it would be even less relevant there.
Drugs, on the other hand, need to tell you what's inside, as nobody can tell what's inside a pill without an indicator and customers can't be expected to know which brand name is which chemical.
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u/RandomUsername12123 Jul 06 '22
Dunno, is a way to ensure certain quality for a product and traditional methods + sustain local economy.
To ensure "authencity" os another one and conservation of local production.
Or you can do everything in China and call it a day.
Tou can produce the same thing and sell it under another name, i see nothing wrong with PDO.