Public consultation concerning the application for the protection of the product name “Ġbejna” as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
Published 15th February 2019
It is hereby being notified that an application for the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) as defined by EU Regulation no. 1151 of 2012 on Quality Schemes for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs was received by the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA). The relevant details of the dossier and further information is given below:
Applicant:Xirka Produtturi Nagħaġ u Moġħoż
for the following terms (in italics):‘Ġbejna’; (plural =‘Ġbejniet’) for PDO status in theClass 1.3. Cheeses
Briefdescription oftheproduct to which thetermsabove apply:
The‘Ġbejna’is a fresh cheese produced with whole raw milk from sheep of the ‘Maltese’ breed and its crosses, and that are registered in the Maltese archipelago islands, including Malta, Gozo and Comino.
The‘Ġbejna’can be sold fresh(‘Ġbejna friska’), air-dried(‘Ġbejna niexfa’)or pickled and peppered(‘Ġbejna tal-bżar’).
The MCCAA is hereby publishing the said application for consultation. Any interested party may object to the application in writing by means of a formal letter addressed to the Director General, Technical Regulations Division, stating also the nature of their interest, within two months from the date of this notice. Any objections received after the end of the said period of two months will not be considered.
The Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government has launched a public consultation on a proposed Bill to amend the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure Cap. 12, Competition Act Cap. 379, the Consumer Affairs Act Cap. 378 and other laws.
Background:
On the 23rd May 2011, the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Act entered into force amending the Competition Act and Consumer Affairs Act to introduce amongst others administrative proceedings.
On the 3rd May 2016, the Constitutional Court delivered a judgement in the names, Federated of Estate Agents v Direttur Ġenerali (Kompetizzjoni) et, where it concluded that the competition proceedings as currently found in the Competition Act involved a criminal charge and should therefore comply with Article 39(1) of the Constitution.