EU: ECJ outlaws Gust Ranin Oy's 'Finnish Cognac'

By Keith Nuthall | 14 July 2011

Click through to see the full label for the offending Hienoa Konjakkia

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has annulled Gust Ranin Oy’s use of the terms ‘Cognac’ and its Finnish translation, ‘konjakki’.

The court today (14 July) ruled that the company's use of the terms on its Cognac L & P Hienoa Konjakkia and Kahvi-Konjakki Café Cognac Likööri brands was a clear breach of EU regulation (EC) No 110/2008 on spirits geographical indications. The regulation underpins a detailed ruling that says that Cognac must come from France.

In ruling that Cognac is a “product whose designation is protected”, the ECJ said that the Finnish registration broke EU law.

Sectors: Legislation, Spirits