Food Authenticity Network’s Post

Our IP expert, Louise Foster, has written an article for the The Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA) on the recent EU General Court decision in the BIG MAC trade mark case between Supermac's and McDonald's. The court partially upheld Supermac's appeal, resulting in the revocation of McDonald's EU trade mark for BIG MAC in several classes. It now remains registered only for "foods prepared from meat products, meat sandwiches" in Class 29 and "edible sandwiches, meat sandwiches" in Class 30. The article highlights the importance of detailed evidence in non-use proceedings and the benefits of drafting broader specifications in trade mark applications. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eSTcD4_c

Breakfast Directives (honey and fruit juices): 603 votes in favour, 9 against, 10 abstentions. The draft legislation has now to be adopted by Council, before being published in the EU Official Journal and entering into force 20 days later. EU countries will have apply the new rules two years after entry into force. Text adopted: https://lnkd.in/eX3vzPrh #honey #foodfraud #fromthehives #ffn

Food law in Sweden is about to get less complicated, and I'm all for it! 🥳 The Swedish Food Agency has been tasked by the Swedish government to both SIMPLIFY and MAKE CHANGES to national food law. Great news! But it gets better. Food businesses and food industry associations are welcome to make their voices heard. What can be improved, what doesn't work as intended, what needs to be clarified? However, it doesn't mention additions. Why should it? Let me tell you. As a consultant for the Swedish market I would welcome an ADDITION of 'may contain traces of' labelling as well as a clarification that all nuts must be stated by name. That would save me hours of emailing each month 😉 Are food businesses encouraged to be part of food legislation simplification in your market? Tell me what you would like to change if you could?

The beer industry’s oldest trade organization is raising its glass to a new debate: hemp beverages and their tax implications. As hemp-based drinks grow in popularity, the Beer Institute is advocating for these products to face the same tax rates as traditional beer. Their argument? A level playing field for an evolving beverage market. (Source: https://lnkd.in/evfQTqsc) This is a critical moment for the alcohol and alternative beverage industries. Tax policy changes could have significant ripple effects on pricing, market competitiveness, and even product innovation. Businesses in these sectors will need to stay agile, balancing compliance with strategic growth. At Unbridled Advisory, we help companies navigate complex industry shifts like these—whether it’s understanding potential impacts of tax changes or developing strategies to remain competitive in evolving markets. If your company has questions about how to adapt to this changing landscape, let’s connect. #BeverageIndustry #HempBeverages #AlcoholIndustry #TaxStrategy #BusinessStrategy #Innovation #FoodAndBeverage #UnbridledAdvisory

Great insights here! 🍺 As the beverage industry continues to evolve with products like hemp-based drinks, the push for equitable tax policies will shape the competitive landscape. At Unbridled Advisory, we’re here to help businesses navigate these shifts with strategies that drive growth and compliance. #BeverageIndustry #StrategicPlanning #UnbridledAdvisory

📣 Last week was packed with ANDTG- news from our corner of the world. Here’s some of the things that went down: 🔹 Today, Monday at 9 am. , Finnish grocery stores expand their beverage-sections introducing stronger beer, ciders and wines containing max 8 vol %. The reform was approved last week, and many stores have prepared for this change stocking up beverages for quite some time already. 🔹 In Sweden, the government announced that it wants to allow farm sales of beer, cider, wine and spirits to consumers in connection with paid visits to producers. This is planned to happen by 2025, while safeguarding Systembolaget AB's exclusive right to retail alcohol. PM Ulf Kristersson called it a freedom reform. 🔹 The Danish Parliament passed a bill that makes it illegal to import, purchase and possess puff bars - e-cigarettes with illegal sweet flavors or excessive nicotine content. Today, it is only prohibited to sell the products. 🔹 Folkhälsomyndigheten published scenario analyses of how social costs could be affected by changes in drug use. 🔹 Look who's here! Welcome to LinkedIn, Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs! 🔹 For more news in English, Finnish, and Scandinavian languages, along with useful links and information, visit www.popnad.com 🔸 Heads up: Keep an eye out for this week's PopNAD article, coming Wednesday, where Carolin Kilian, Fleur Braddick and Jürgen Rehm provide an overview of the legal framework for alcohol produced for personal use in EU Member States. How much is allowed for personal use? Are 11 beers a day really a reasonable amount?

As consumers, we recognise the colour of a product or its packaging to identify a specific brand that we want to buy. However, UK and EU trade mark law continues to be somewhat hesitant to grant trade mark protection to colour marks. 🎨   In her latest article for the IP Ingredients blog, Tanya Waller discusses colours in the food & drink sector, and how to overcome hurdles and leverage colour tade marks.   Find out how you can register your trade mark colour to ensure it is distinctive to your brand below https://lnkd.in/e2WBJFzh For the latest IP news, updates, and discussion in the food and drink sector, head over to our Food & Drink+IP group: https://lnkd.in/gnYCr72X #IPIngredients #FoodandDrink #HGFEurope

Learn about the various regulations that govern the US food industry, including federal, state, and local laws. CT Corporation's Hans Howk delves into licensing requirements for different types of food businesses. Gain valuable insights here: https://lnkd.in/ecRgTn8s #businesslicense #compliance #food #foodindustry

🧀 The High Court recently upheld the UKIPO's decision that GRILLOUMI and GRILLOUMAKI are registrable as trade marks, despite opposition from the owners of the collective mark HALLOUMI. 🧀 In this article, Beverley Potts and I examine the limitations of descriptive terms, particularly in relation to collective marks, and the potential for geographical indication protection to act as an alternative. Have a read! https://lnkd.in/ebYrnN_h

Levent Küçük, the president of the Consumers Association (TÜDER) will make a speech on “Sales of Safe Food Products and Easy Access to Food Products” in our Congress. In his speech, Mr. Küçük will question the responsibilities of public authorities from official inspections to tax applications for the consumers to be sure that the food on the markets is safe and that they are able to choose the product they prefer. We invite you to listen to this interesting speech, moving from the fact that everybody is a consumer in a way.