France obtains a two-month reprieve on the appellation of its champagne in Russia

Russia wants to prevent the use of labeling French champagne with the designation "champagne" in the country.

(illustration photo).

REUTERS / Benoit Tessier / File Photo

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

France will finally be able until December 31 to ship its bottles of champagne to Russia while retaining the name "champagne".

A recent Russian law not yet enforced wanted to prevent champagne from using its own name, but Minister for Foreign Trade Franck Riester announced the opening of negotiations.

Advertising

Read more

Since July 2, a modification of the Russian law on the trade of alcoholic products wants to oblige French producers of champagne to include the mention “sparkling wine” on their bottle instead of their prestigious appellation.

And that, while reserving the name “champanskoye” for Russian producers.

Inadmissible for the French, who see here a serious attack on their protected designation of origin.

In early July, the Champagne Committee even called on Champagne producers to suspend their shipments to Russia in protest.

And to appease a little the "champagne war" and the diplomatic tensions that it may have generated, the committee finally reconsidered this decision in mid-September.

Today, Russia, like the United States, still does not recognize the controlled designation of origin “champagne”.

With this two-month reprieve, France now has until December 31 to make things happen.

The Minister for Foreign Trade Franck Riester said he was " 

 " and "

 " to " 

 French

" during the two months of negotiations that await him.

►Also read: Label war between champagne from France and Russian “champanskoye”

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• France

• Russia

• Agriculture and Fishing

• Trade and Trade