Counterfeit Georgian Wine Was Removed from Sales in Ukraine
Counterfeit Georgian wine batch was removed from sales in Ukraine and the offender was fined by the Ukrainian Antimonopoly Service.
In 2016, the National Wine Agency received information, that Ukrainian companies had illegally imitated Georgian wines and used Georgian protected appellation wine names illegally. In particular, non-Georgian wines were sold in the market of Ukraine, symbols and marks of which were associated with Georgia and Georgian wine labeles on the bottles misled the consumers about the country of wine origin.
This factor is particularly important in the market where Georgian wine is highly reputable. Accordingly, companies operating in Ukraine create unfair competition conditions for Georgian wine producer fair companies and thus, directly influence the export potential of Georgian wine. With regard to this fact, the National Wine Agency, within the mandate granted by the Government of Georgia, addressed the Ukrainian Antimonopoly Committee, which initiated and launched an investigation against Ukrainian company LLC KAMIANKA GLOBAL WINE.
In October 2017, Committee prepared a preliminary report, which stated that KAMIANKA GLOBAL WINE was misleading consumers and creating unfair competition environment by imitated labelling of Georgian wine and spreading disinformation, accordingly, it might be imposed responsibility sanctions prescribed by the Ukrainian legislation, including financial sanctions.
By the end of 2017 Ukrainian Antimonopoly Committee recognized the actions of the Ukrainian company as a violation of the Ukrainian law on "protection against dishonest competition" and imposed a penalty of 7 010 000 UAH. At the same time, KAMIANKA GLOBAL WINE has been banned for implementing similar actions on the imitation of Georgian wine in the future.
Thus, in Ukraine, the first precedent of making decision in favor of the Georgian public institution was made by the Antimonopoly Committee.
The National Wine Agency will continue to carry out effective measures for protection of the Georgian wine and its varieties in the international market.