Campaign to have Waterford Crystal glass only made in Ireland – RTE.ie

A European legal campaign is being launched to have Waterford Crystal glass only made in Waterford.

The UNITE trade union has announced plans for a test case to force the current owners of Waterford Crystal to repatriate manufacturing of the brand to the city.

Waterford Crystal closed in 2009 with the loss of 600 skilled jobs.

The brand name was bought by KPS Capital Partners, a US private equity company with $2.5bn worth of assets.

Some crystal items are again being made in Waterford but the vast majority of manufacturing has moved away from Ireland.

The brand is still sold under the original Waterford trade mark and the union is now going to challenge the use of the trademark on glass not produced in Waterford.

It said there is significant legal and commercial precedent for a successful action against the making of products in other regions, such as Champagne in France and Parma ham in Italy.