Rooibos protected in EU trade pact

[saor]

Can they call it redbush?

They do .

 

[Ockie]

Red bush sounds stupid. Sounds like tea made from a ginger's you know what. bleh.

 

[supersunbird]

They do .

As hydrating as water... Really? Maybe because its 99.9% water! Damn advertising!

 

[Arthur]

Because its has value? Because maybe the people who are in that region producing said item asked for it? Should "the man" aka Ceasar just ignore their request?

Yes. Caesar should ignore those requests.

Caesar should say "Citizens, it is not for me to decide who may buy and sell, or who may marry whom, or what sort of education or health services you buy. My concern is that you do so without force or fraud, and I will vindicate your rights. I wield the power of the sword to vindicate your rights, and I refuse to send my troops to stop some people from plying an honest trade."

 

[supersunbird]

Yes. Caesar should ignore those requests.

Caesar should say "Citizens, it is not for me to decide who may buy and sell, or who may marry whom, or what sort of education or health services you buy. My concern is that you do so without force or fraud, and I will vindicate your rights. I wield the power of the sword to vindicate your rights, and I refuse to send my troops to stop some people from plying an honest trade."

"Well then, lets elect a Ceasar who will give us what we want, so long current Ceasar, you're out of here..."

 

[Arthur]

"Well then, lets elect a Ceasar who will give us what we want, so long current Ceasar, you're out of here..."

That's the problem with democracy. You cannot extract justice by majority vote. Citizens have rights that antecede the State. Once you surrender the principle that the State can decide these issues, you have lost the argument and it all becomes a matter of degree. Now the citizens rejoice. Their grandchildren will weep and long for liberty.

 

[supersunbird]

That's the problem with democracy. You cannot extract justice by majority vote. Citizens have rights that antecede the State. Once you surrender the principle that the State can decide these issues, you have lost the argument and it all becomes a matter of degree. Now the citizens rejoice. Their grandchildren will weep and long for liberty.

You have a better system that does take into consideration human nature?

 

[wizardofid]

The Rooibos plant is endemic, to a small part in the western cape, the plant can't literally grow any where else, a lot of countries have tried and all have failed.Lets not forget, that burke international tried to, patent the name, and lost a lawsuit as a result.

So no this is completely fair, you can't call some thing rooibos, because it isn't rooibos and you only able to grow it in one region of South Africa only.

 

[Arthur]

The Rooibos plant is endemic, to a small part in the western cape, the plant can't literally grow any where else, a lot of countries have tried and all have failed.Lets not forget, that burke international tried to, patent the name, and lost a lawsuit as a result.

So no this is completely fair, you can't call some thing rooibos, because it isn't rooibos and you only able to grow it in one region of South Africa only.

I'm aware that rooibos is hard to grow in other regions (I know a rooibos bush farmer on the Olifants River), which further weakens their case for special legal protection since Nature in any case selects producers in those regions.

This is an ironic twist, and SA speaks with forked tongue to the EU. When opposing the Burke trademarking in the USA about ten years ago, the whole SA argument was that the term rooibos is generic and cannot be trademarked. This argument won the day. Yet now they seek legal protection in the EU.

In any case, my point is much larger - the particularities of the rooibos case are in a way beside the point. I find the whole notion of State protection for certain commercial operations quite repellent.

 

[reactor_sa]

Since redespresso I don't drink as much rooibos tea. I think redespresso might be a trade mark too.

 

[Dave]

Yes. Caesar should ignore those requests.

Caesar should say "Citizens, it is not for me to decide who may buy and sell, or who may marry whom, or what sort of education or health services you buy. My concern is that you do so without force or fraud, and I will vindicate your rights. I wield the power of the sword to vindicate your rights, and I refuse to send my troops to stop some people from plying an honest trade."

You just don't get it, the producers want it (it gives them tremendous protection), the people want it, the EU governments want it, it has universal support. It isn't an easy process to get it awarded, and producers have to work hard to justify it being awarded.

Just because you don't like the idea of protecting a unique regional product, you think everyone else is wrong?

 

[Seriously]

They do .

View attachment 134353

In light of the new agreement?

 

[Arthur]

Just because you don't like the idea of protecting a unique regional product, you think everyone else is wrong?

I thought that was abundantly clear from my post.

But since you ask, yes.

Perhaps you are not aware that not everyone supports this. We are admittedly a distinct minority.

 

[Dave]

In light of the new agreement?

I doubt it, the word "Rooibos" is on the packaging, so would still need to comply, so it's more likely to be just for the use of English for marketing reasons.

I would be surprised if the protection didn't extend to the translation of Rooibos into any EU language as well.

Also, checking the Tetley site, this tea is real SA Rooibos.

Tetley Pure Redbush

Carefully sourced… from the Cedarberg region of South Africa, contributing to the local economy & development of its inhabitants.

100% Natural…Tetley redbush leaves are hand picked from the rooibos plant, grown only in the Western Cape of South Africa, before being cut and dried – nothing is added!

Skilfully tasted… all our redbush infusions are quality checked at least 8 times.

Expertly blended… our unique Tetley superior cut redbush is sieved for longer to create a finer redbush infusion that is full flavoured and naturally caffeine free.

Available in 40s and 80s

http://www.tetley.co.uk/our-teas/products?id=49