Parma ham v Asda stores in European court
the Parma ham consortium against UK supermarket chain ASDA over
mislabelling Parma ham.
The European Court of Justice will this week hear a case brought by the Parma ham consortium against UK supermarket chain ASDA over mislabelling Parma ham.
ASDA Stores, owned by US giant Wal-Mart, sells pre-sliced Parma ham made by Italy-based Salumificio S. Rita, and describes it as "Prosciutto di Parma".
Salumificio S. Rita is a member of the Consortium, which is an association of producers of Prosciutto di Parma.
The ham is bought by ASDA from Hygrade Foods, which is also based in the UK and which itself buys it from an Italian producer who is a member of the Consortium. The ham is imported into the United Kingdom boned but unsliced. It is sliced and hermetically sealed by Hygrade in packets of five slices each.
The packets bear the following words: "ASDA-A taste of Italy-PARMA HAM-Genuine Italian Parma Ham". The back of the packets states, " PARMA HAM-All authentic Asda continental meats are made by traditional methods to guarantee their authentic flavour and quality. Produced in Italy, packed in the UK for Asda Stores Limited".
In 1997, the Consortium complained to the Trading Standards Authorities in the United Kingdom of breach of Community law concerning the protection of designations of origin and of geographical indications of agricultural products and foodstuffs.
Following legal proceedings before the British courts, the Consortium and Salumificio brought an appeal before the House of Lords. The House of Lords is asking the Court of Justice to rule on questions concerning the interpretation of Community law in this area.
