EUROPEAN AMBASSADOR VISITS PARMIGIANO-REGGIANO AT FOODEX IN TOKYO

Reggio Emilia, 11 March 2005 - Ambassador Bernhard Zepter, Head of the European Commission Delegation in Japan, was hosted by the Consortium for Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese in the stand organised at Foodex in Tokyo, the most important annual food exhibition in Asia that has attracted 90,000 visitors from all over the world.
EU Ambassator Mr. Zepter wanted to meet the representatives of the consortiums involved in the "Trio Project" (Parmigiano-Reggiano, Parma Ham and Comté cheese) to discuss the information campaign in Japan financed by the European Commission.
The Consortium for Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese, which has been operating in Japan with projects of collaboration with the Italian Trade Commission and AGEA Europa, was present in the area arranged by the Italian Trade Commission with the purpose of spreading knowledge about the product and focusing on the value of the PDO. Simone Ficarelli, representative of the Consortium, participated in the conference organised by the European Union on the importance of the respect of geographical indications mentioning the example of Parmigiano-Reggiano because of its extensive experience in the protection against numerous imitations.
Also Mario Salvatore Bova, Italian Ambassador in Japan, visited the Consortium's stand during the inauguration of the exhibition.

In the picture: from the left Paolo Tramelli, representative of the Parma Ham Consortium; a Japanese guest; Simone Ficarelli, representative of the Consortium for Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese; Ambassador Bernherd Zepter, head of the European Commission Delegation in Japan; Paolo Caridi, chief secretary of the Delegation.