The court maintained Slovakia’s right to use the PDO Vinohradnícka oblast Tokaj in the European Union’s E-Bacchus database of PDOs.

The Tokaj wine-growing region straddles areas on both sides of the Hungarian–Slovakian border. Hungary has been pushing to retain the exclusive right of using the “Tokaj” designation lest “Tokaj” wines produced in Slovakia be confused with those made in Hungary.

Hungary claims that it misleads consumers that Slovak wines, whose quality is regarded as being inferior to genuine Hungarian Tokaj wines, be sold with the label “Vinohradnícka oblast Tokaj”.

And if that wasn’t enough to keep Hungary’s producers of alcoholic drinks on their toes, the ECJ is soon to rule on whether or not the production of home-made pálinka (fruit distillate) may remain free of taxation in Hungary.

Source: Heti Válasz

Translated by Budapest Telegraph