「西尾の抹茶」取り消し　地理的表示、全国初―農水省

　農林水産省は１４日、地域ブランドを守る地理的表示（ＧＩ）保護制度に基づき登録された愛知県の特産品「西尾の抹茶」を、対象から外したと発表した。生産者団体は、コストがかかる伝統的な栽培法に縛られ、高値販売を迫られる現状が続けば経営が苦しくなると判断。別の製法で手頃な価格の製品も販売するため、同省に取り下げを求めていた。
　農水省によると、取り消しは２０１５年の制度創設以来初めて。
　国内外で健康志向が高まり、抹茶市場は拡大傾向にある。ただ、強いニーズがあるのは出荷価格が１キロ当たり１０００円程度の製品。生産者団体の西尾茶協同組合によると、同３０００円を超える西尾の抹茶の売れ行きは伸び悩んでいる。（2020/02/14-17:56）

Japan's agriculture ministry said Friday it has removed the "Nishio Matcha" tea in central Japan from its system to protect local specialties' geographical brand names.
   The cancellation of the geographical indication protection, the first of its kind since the system was created in 2015, will allow producers of the green tea in the cities of Nishio and Anjo of Aichi Prefecture not to stick to the costly traditional cultivation method.
   The Nishio Tea Cooperative Association asked the ministry to cancel the GI protection so they can adopt production methods to make Nishio Matcha available to consumers at affordable prices around 1,000 yen per kilogram, less than one-third of the current prices. Due to the high prices, Nishio Matcha sales have been sluggish.
   According to the ministry, about 90 brands, including Kobe Beef from Hyogo Prefecture, have won the GI protection.
   Over the brand protection by the government, there have been some conflicts between producers.