Brussels, Feb. 20 - Olive oil from Corsica and lamb from western Ireland were among the 28 products European Union regulators Tuesday designated as having associations with a particular place.
This classification means olive oil and lamb from other parts of the world can't be sold with labels or associations linked to these areas.
These protections have been controversial in the past. Danish cheesemakers fought for over a decade to call their briny cheese "feta" before a court dismissed their claims in 2005. Only Greek cheesemakers can use the name, since that is where the cheese originated.
French champagne, Portugal's port wine and parmesan cheese from the region around Parma, Italy are other products that have caused international labeling disputes.
In addition to Corsican olive oil and Connemara Hill lamb from Ireland, the 28 products the E.U. protected on Tuesday also included potatoes from northwestern Spain, a Dutch cow's milk cheese and a Portuguese spicy sausage.