Začíná řádně přituhovat. Problém s potencionálním zákazem užívání názvu absinthe mimo produkty Val de Travers si plně uvědomují všichni producenti na světe. Nejen já jsem dnes od Davida dostal následující e-mail:
May 23, 2010
Dear Absinthe Producer,
On March 31, 2010, the Swiss Interprofession filed for an IGP (Indication de Provenance Géographique) for the Val-de-Travers that specifically and independently protects not only the words the words "La Bleue", but also "Absinthe"and "Fée Verte".
Switzerland and the European Union are bound by several treaties, including the Agreement on Exchange of Agricultural Products dated April 30, 2002, and in particular, Appendix 8 relating to Wines and Spirits. As a result, E.U. producers will soon no longer be able to use the word "absinthe" as a product description. It's likely that this restriction would be extended to US producers (and in practice distributors) as well.
We strongly feel this action is inappropriate, as the word "absinthe" itself refers to a plant, and a type of liquor historically derived from it. The term "absinthe" does not refer to a specific region of Switzerland, nor does it imply that absinthe cannot be produced outside of the Val-de-Travers, as history proves that absinthe (including absinthe of the highest quality) was and is produced in other countries, including France, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, the USA and others. From the Belle Epoque through the present day, the Val de Travers has in fact accounted for only a tiny fraction of worldwide absinthe production, and in the modern era only an infinitesimally small fraction of green absinthe production.
Our legal counsel has indicated this IGP will be approved unless swift action is taken to oppose it within 90 days of the filing date, which is less than 30 days from the time this letter was written.
The consequences of this IGP being adopted unmodified will be catastrophic for absinthe producers outside the Val de Travers, and also for those companies in Europe and the US which distribute and sell non-Val de Travers absinthes.
There is some local opposition to the IGP in Switzerland itself from absinthe producers outside the Val de Travers, but if this is successful it may simply lead to the IGP being modified to include all Switzerland - no use at all to producers elsewhere. What is needed is urgent and concerted action from producers and distributors worldwide to stop this historical and geographic travesty in its tracks.
We are writing this letter to request your urgent support to fight this action. Without adequate support, E.U. producers will no longer be free to use terms like "Absinthe" and "Fée Verte". Our legal counsel is confident that the Swiss petition can be defeated, but there is no time for delay.
You may be aware that this legal team successfully overturned the French decree on fenchone and pinocamphone recently, and we have complete confidence in their professionalism and ability to defeat this matter.
We are asking for your participation, which is requested in the amount of one thousand Euros (€ 1.000,00). Your contribution will provide the support we need to fight this petition, and no more will be asked of you. The money will go directly to the account of the legal team, who have agreed to undertake this work at a substantially reduced tariff. Any surplus funds received will be returned by them to the donors on a pro-rata basis.
Please forward payment directly to NIXON PEABODY, our legal representatives at the coordinates below, reference the phrase "ABSINTHE IGP" together with your name and business when making payment, and inform us of your payment via email. Please advise if you have any questions, but please do so quickly, as we have less than 30 days to respond.
The clock is ticking, and time is running out. If everyone sits on their hands and hopes for the best, the IGP will be approved. We must act now, with the greatest urgency to stop this. Please join this urgent campaign immediately.
Sincerely,
Ted A. Breaux
tabreaux@gmail.comDavid Nathan-Maister
david@oxygenee.comLegal Counsel:
Legal Counsel:
Arnaud de Senilhes
Avocat à la Cour Associé
Managing Partner
NIXON PEABODY
32, rue de Monceau
75008 Paris, France
+33 (0) 170723600
adesenilhes@nixonpeabody.comNixon Peabody International, LLP
Crédit Agricole de d'Ile-de'France
Bank Code – 18206
Guichet Code – 00432
Account – 60235222423
IBAN – FR76 1820 6004 3260 2352 2242 332
BIC – AGRIFRPP882
David a Ted se spojili s advokátní kanceláří, která jim už jednou pomohla zneplatnit nesmyslný francouzský zákon o limitu fenchonu v absintu a prosí ostatní producenty a distributory, ani jim v tom finančně pomohli. Bude to totiž naprosto zásadní pře, která může v důsledku ohrozit celý absintový průmysl. Název absinthe či fee verte by mohlo používat jen pár absintových producentů z Val de Travers, kteří v celosvětovém měřítku netvoří ani procento absintových tvůrců.
Doteď jsem si myslel, že by se to týkalo jen Švýcarska a ne EU, ale jak David píše, existuje mezi Švýcarskem a EU dohoda "Agreement on Exchange of Agricultural Products" z 30. 4 2002 a v ní zvláště kapitola 8 týkající se vína a destilátů. Pokud by tedy Švýcaři uzákonili regionální omezení na absinthe, tak by to platilo pro všechny, dokonce pro US producenty!
