Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski on behalf of the European Commission

8.8.2023

The name Viñedos de Álava/Arabako Mahastiak PDO[1] has not been entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications.

The application for registration of Viñedos de Álava/Arabako Mahastiak PDO was received by the Commission on 13 May 2022.

During the scrutiny of the application by the Commission, the Spanish authorities asked on 29 July 2022 for suspension of such scrutiny in line with Article 97 paragraph 3 (b) of Regulation (EU) 1308/2013[2] due to the initiation of a national judicial procedure challenging the validity of the application.

The Commission awaits information from the Spanish authorities in view of giving an appropriate follow up to this application.

• [1]  Protected Designation of Origin.
• [2]  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02013R1308-20211207#:~:text=REGULATION%20%28EU%29%20No%201308%2F2013%20OF%20THE%20EUROPEAN%20PARLIAMENT,234%2F79%2C%20%28EC%29%20No%201037%2F2001%20and%20%28EC%29%20No%201234%2F2007