79. The representative of Australia explained how he saw the situation under the EC proposal by taking an example. If the EC notified a GI for product "X" and Argentina opposed that notification on the ground that it was generic in Argentina, Australia would seek opposition too. Product "X" was imported from the EC and Argentina into Japan. Japan, who was not interested in the products or did not produce them, would under the EC proposal have to protect the GI for "X" if it had not opposed it within the 18-month time limit. Argentina would in such a scenario lose its right to sell its product "X" and would have to re-label and re-market it. In sum, the issue was not limited to a problem between two countries but would also affect the opposing country's interests in the markets of third countries who did not produce wines and spirits.
