News Briefs
Kalamata table olives with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) have received international property protection after being registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) under their Greek name, Elia Kalamatas.
Kalamata PDO table olives come from the indigenous Greek Kalamon cultivar produced in the Messenia prefecture in southern Peloponnese.
WIPO, a legally binding international register for Appellations of Origin (AOs) and Geographical Indications (GIs), will protect Kalamata PDO table olives from imitations and counterfeiting in 76 countries worldwide.
See Also:Europe Strengthens Protections for Geographical IndicationsKalamata olives from Messenia also bear a protected geographical indicator from the European Union since 1996.
“We unwaveringly continue our efforts to defend and protect the world-famous Protected Designation of Origin despite those who try by all means to abolish it,” the Messenia Union of Agricultural Associations, which initiated and monitored the WIPO application for Kalamata olives, said in a statement.
“We empower and invest in iconic PDO appellations with vision, plan, scientific intelligence and seriousness,” they added.
However, the Greek National Interprofessional Association of Table Olives (Doepel) contradicted the union’s statement, saying it was inaccurate and raised suspicions.
“It is clear, as we have stressed many times, that no one opposes or tries to abolish the Elia Kalamatas PDO,” the interprofessional said. “However, it should be noted that the [Kalamata table olive PDO] exhibits no export potential whatsoever. In particular, the largest quantity exported since 1996… has not exceeded 247 tons — 0.30 percent of Greek exports of the Kalamon/Kalamata variety.”
The dispute between the Messenia Union and the national interprofessional shows that the coveted Kalamata appellation, which confers worldwide recognition to the product, continues to divide the Greek table olive sector.
Producers of Kalamon olives based in Messenia claim that the Kalamata name designates a PDO product and should be reserved only for olives produced in the region.
Kalamon producers in other regions argue that the Kalamata name should be used freely throughout Greece since the olives come from the same cultivar.
The Greek state and the country’s supreme court have also been drawn into the dispute, underscoring the chasm between producers.
In September 2022, the Greek government issued a ministerial decree allowing all producers of Kalamon table olives in the country to use the Kalamata brand name.
The 2022 decision to re-register Kalamata olives on the national list of plant varieties, allowing producers across Greece to use the name, was an effort to reverse a supreme court decision that overturned the 2018 ministerial decree that initially registered Kalamata olives on the list.
The freeing of the Kalamata brand name significantly boosted exports of Kalamon olives from Greece, marketed as Kalamata or Kalamata PDO for those produced in Messenia, meeting the PDO requirements.
However, it enabled olive producers in other countries to promote their Kalamon olives as Kalamata, directly competing with Greek producers.
The Messenian table olive producers have again appealed the 2022 ministerial decree to the Greek Council of State, and the Supreme Court’s decision is still pending.
In bountiful years, Kalamon/Kalamata olives production in Greece can exceed 100,000 tons. Around 80 percent of production is destined for export to international markets with an export value of more than €200 million.
More articles on: Greece, olive oil legal issues, Protected Designation of Origin
Jul. 29, 2024
Olive Trees on Corfu Face Threat from Wood-Eating Insects, Experts Rule Out Xylella
A lab in Athens ruled out Xylella fastidiosa as the cause of the dieback in central and northern Corfu groves.
May. 13, 2024
Native Varieties and Centenarian Trees: The Winning Formula for Olivian Groves
After a harvest full of twists and turns, the Peloponnese producer achieved award-winning quality by relying on traditional and modern practices.
Mar. 19, 2024
Registration of Kalamata Olives as Intellectual Property Renews Controversy in Greece
The registration of the Kalamata table olive PDO from Messenia with WIPO will restrict the term's use by table olive producers in Greece, re-igniting an ongoing debate.
Jul. 20, 2024
Award-Winning Producer Promotes Rhodes as An Olive Oil Destination
Greece’s fourth-largest island is a well-known tourist destination. Consistently winning quality awards is helping Natura Rodos raise its profile as an olive oil producer.
Sep. 18, 2024
Producers in Herzegovina Celebrate New PDO
Local officials say the Zlatne Kapi Protected Designation of Origin will raise the profile of local olive oils and promote tourism.
Jan. 16, 2024
The Olive Tree and the Rise of Athens
The story of the divine competition for Athens reflects the ancient Greeks' reverence for wisdom, strategy and life's practical needs.
Dec. 14, 2023
Farmers in Greece Call for Subsidies Amid Low Yields
A steep drop in production has led the country’s table olive and oil producers to protests, asking for financial aid of €200 per stremma to be granted to all olive farmers.
Jun. 12, 2024
Record Olive Oil Prices Drive Food Inflation in Greece
A study from the National Bank of Greece found that record olive oil prices were responsible for almost 50 percent of the increase in total food inflation.