DLA Piper Consumer Goods, Food and Retail

Intellectual property plays a crucial role in the whisky industry, from protecting heritage and branding to enforcing rights against counterfeits and lookalikes. Recent case law highlights the challenges whisky producers face in safeguarding their IP, but also the opportunities available for brand owners to enforce their rights through geographic indications, patents, trademarks, and other rights. In this article, Ruth Hoy and Huw Cookson discuss the key IP considerations for whisky brands who want to properly protect and enforce their brands. ? Click on the link to read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dqPXNd_Z ? #ScotchWhisky #IP?

In anticipation of our upcoming webinar on the #EUOmnibus package, Nicholas Rock and Richard Sterneberg discuss what the final package will look like and how businesses can adapt during the uncertainty. To hear their full thoughts, watch here: https://bit.ly/4hyXuvj To join our webinar, featuring Greta Koch, register here: https://lnkd.in/efkDVi_m

The much-anticipated #Omnibus package of reforms is here, aiming to simplify regulations and boost the competitiveness of European industry. You can read our take on the package here. Key Highlights: CSRD Scope Reduction: 80% of companies currently in scope will be excluded. Compliance Delays: Reporting postponed by 2 years for many. CSDDD & Taxonomy Adjustments: Significant changes to due diligence and reporting requirements. CBAM Delays: New timelines for carbon border adjustments. While some businesses may breathe a sigh of relief, others are concerned about the long-term implications for the EU's leadership in sustainability. Stay tuned for more updates, and don't miss our in-depth webinar with guest speaker Greta Koch from the EP on March 19, 2025 – secure your place here: https://lnkd.in/efkDVi_m #EUReforms #Sustainability #CorporateGovernance #CSRD #CSDDD #Taxonomy #CBAM

DLA Piper and Agrumaria Reggina Announce Exciting Joint Venture for New Production Site in Egypt Agrumaria Reggina S.r.l., a leader in citrus-based ingredients for the global Food & Beverage and Flavour & Fragrance markets, has entered into a dynamic joint venture with an Egyptian partner and SIMEST, part of the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Group. This strategic investment will establish a state-of-the-art production site 50 km west of Cairo, spanning 24,000 square metres, with 6,000 square metres dedicated to production and 1,000 square metres for offices and quality control labs. ? The joint venture involves an investment in Nutriziya for Concentrate Manufacturing S.A.E., facilitated through Real Med Holding Limited, based in Dubai. The funding will be provided via a dedicated capital increase and shareholder loans from all parties involved. ? The DLA Piper team, consisting of Stefano Montalbetti, Vincenzo Giuffre' and partner Christian Iannaccone, supported by DLA Piper Middle East partners Therese Abou-Zeid and Natalia Boustani, served as the legal advisor for Agrumaria Reggina. The firm expertly navigated all aspects of the joint venture and contracts with SIMEST, ensuring seamless coordination across multiple jurisdictions. The internal team of Agrumaria was led by CFO Domenico Chirico and legal counsel Davide Coppola. ? This venture marks a significant milestone for Agrumaria Reggina as it expands its footprint into Egypt, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and growth in the citrus ingredient sector.

Major changes to the Warehousekeepers and Owners of Warehoused Goods Regulations (WOWGR) will come into force on 3 March. While the removal of the requirement for owners of Scotch whisky and duty representatives to register with HMRC will simplify the system for owners of casks in the UK and overseas, it may also create some challenges, particularly around due diligence. ? Alistair Drummond, Partner and Jennifer Talbot, Legal Director, Co-Heads of DLA's Scotch whisky practice note that a new framework may be needed to fill the regulatory gap. ? Click on the link to read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dfdSaHD8 ? #ScotchWhisky #Regulation

Join DLA Piper’s exclusive webinar on the ground-breaking EU Omnibus Proposal. Dive deep into the legal, commercial, and political impacts of the EU’s transformative changes to mandatory sustainability reporting. Get insights on the overhaul of the CSRD, CSDDD, and Taxonomy Regulation from our fantastic experts Greta Koch, Richard Sterneberg, Nicholas Rock and Venessa Parekh. Secure your place here: https://lnkd.in/efkDVi_m

The Health and Care Act 2022 is set to bring new restrictions on the advertising of ‘less-healthy foods’ (LHF), coming into force in October 2025. These rules will significantly impact how food & drink businesses market their products, as well as potentially impact their ability to advertise their 'master brands'. Initially, the draft guidance published by Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) reflected a master brand advertising exemption but, in a major U-turn, CAP has backtracked. The new guidance suggests even indirect references to LHF products, or to master brands which are synonymous with less-healthy products, could be caught by the restrictions. For more information, read the full article here from John Wilks, Huw Cookson and Filip Badina: https://lnkd.in/ePKnhhg8

UK alcohol industry regulator, The Portman Group, is launching a bi-annual audit to ensure responsible marketing practices in the alcohol industry. Alcohol manufacturers and distributors should consider reviewing their packaging and marketing now to ensure full compliance with the Portman Codes and broader advertising regulations. Find out more in our update from John Wilks and Filip Badina: https://lnkd.in/e4Rw-3FY #Advertising #Marketing

Last month, our summit for the consumer goods, food, and retail sector brought together industry leaders to explore strategic responses to sustainability challenges. Nicholas Rock, our Global Co-Chair for the sector, led insightful panel discussions based on our latest research report, which surveyed 600 sector leaders on their ESG strategies. We were privileged to hear from external experts who shared their knowledge on holistic sustainability integration, board engagement, compliance, litigation, and more. In this video, attendees Anna Halford, Principal Counsel - The Walt Disney Company, Greta Koch, Policy Advisor - European Parliament and Guido Kleve, Partner - DLA Piper, share their perspectives from the summit. If you couldn't join us, you can still access our comprehensive research report via the link, covering all of the key topics discussed: https://lnkd.in/ei8TsZ_b