Commission Decision (EU) 2026/1852 of 28 July 2026 approving, on behalf of the European Union, the modification of Annex XVIII to the Association Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and Central America, on the other (notified under document C(2026) 5236)

Article 1

The modification of Part of B of Annex XVIII to the Agreement set out in the draft Decision of the Association Council, are hereby approved on behalf of the Union. The draft Decision of the Association Council is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The representative of the Union in the Association Council is authorised to approve the Decision of the Association Council on behalf of the Union.

Article 3

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. After its adoption, the Decision of the Association Council shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union .

DRAFT DECISION No […]/2026 OF THE EU-CENTRAL AMERICA ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

ANNEXSupplementary provisions

ANNEX DRAFT DECISION No […]/2026 OF THE EU-CENTRAL AMERICA ASSOCIATION COUNCIL of XXX modifying Annex XVIII (‘Protected Geographical Indications’) to the Agreement establishing the Association between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and Central America, on the other hand THE EU-CENTRAL AMERICA ASSOCIATION COUNCIL, Having regard to the Agreement establishing the Association between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and Central America, on the other hand  ( 1 ) (‘the Agreement’), and in particular Articles 6 and 247 thereof, Whereas: (1) Article 274 of the Agreement establishes a Sub-Committee on Intellectual Property, which may recommend, for approval by the Association Council, modifications of the list of geographical indications set out in Annex XVIII to the Agreement. (2) On 29 October 2024, Costa Rica submitted to the Union its request to add one new geographical indication to Annex XVIII (Protected Geographical Indications) to the Agreement pursuant to Article 247 of the Agreement. The Commission has completed the examination and the objection procedure of Costa Rica’s new geographical indication. (3) On 3 June 2026, pursuant to Article 274(2) of the Agreement, the Sub-Committee on Intellectual Property, in a joint meeting between the European Union and Central America parties, concluded, following prior assessment of the information provided in relation to the new geographical indication of Costa Rica, to complete through a written procedure the recommendation to the Association Council to modify the list of geographical indications set out in Annex XVIII to the Agreement accordingly. (4) The Association Council has the power to take the decision by mutual agreement in accordance with Article 11 of its Rules of Procedure. (5) Annex XVIII to the Agreement should therefore be modified, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The entry in the Annex to this Decision is added to the table in Part B of Annex XVIII ‘Protected Geographical Indications’ to the Agreement, as established by Decision No 5/2014 of the EU-Central America Association Council  ( 2 ) . Article 2 This Decision, done in duplicate, shall be signed by representatives of the EU-Central America Association Council who are authorized to act on behalf of the Parties for purposes of modifying the Agreement. This Decision shall take effect from the date of the later of these signatures. Done at For the EU Party, For the Association Council For the CA Party, (each CA country signs the decision) ( 1 )   ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2012/734/2023-12-26 . ( 2 )   Decision No 5/2014 of the EU-Central America Association Council of 7 November 2014 on the Geographical Indications to be included in Annex XVIII of the Agreement ( OJ L 196, 24.7.2015, p. 59 ).

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ANNEX Country Name Products Costa Rica Queso Turrialba Cheese