(BRUSSELS) - Colombian coffee became on Thursday the first non-European product to win special EU protection because of its geographic origin alongside Champagne, Roquefort cheese and Rioja wine.

The European Commission granted the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia a coveted Protected Geographical Indication at a ceremony at its Brussels headquarters.

"Today is an important day in the history of Colombian coffee," said Luis Fernando Samper from the federation.

"It's a symbolic distinction and a defensive argument as we have seen lots of cases of people trying to sell Colombian coffee that wasn't," he added. "This brings us into a select club including the most famous champagne, cheeses, hams and wines."

Protected Geographical Indications are given to respected food products that can prove a distinct link to a particular place and imitators from other areas are not allowed to sell under the same name in Europe.

Since April 2006, countries from outside the European Union have been allowed to apply for the distinction.

Coffee is Colombia's third biggest export after coal and bananas, exporting 1.7 billion dollars (1.2 billion euros) worth of beans in 2006.

EU food quality label systems

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