BRUSSELS, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU)'s highest court ruled Tuesday only cheese made in Northern Italy can be called Parmesan, disappointing Germans who produced similar products.

    "Only cheeses bearing the protected designation of origin 'Parmigiano Reggiano' can be sold under the name 'Parmesan,'" the European Court of Justice said in a ruling in Luxembourg.

    The case was brought in 2005 by the European Commission against Germany after the country failed to prevent its cheese producers from using the name Parmesan.

    The commission claimed Parmesan is a translation of Italy's "Parmigiano Reggiano," which is protected under the EU food origin rules.

    "Given the phonetic and visual similarity between the names in question, and the similar appearance of the products, use of the name 'Parmesan' must be regarded as an evocation of the protected designation of origins 'Parmigiano Reggiano,' which is protected by Community law against such an occurrence," the court said, while saying whether Parmesan is a translation of "Parmigiano Reggiano" is irrelevant.

    Parmigiano Reggiano has been protected as a geographical indication in the 27-nation EU since 1996, meaning the phrase can only be used for cheeses made, grated and packaged in the northern Italian regions around the cities of Parma and Reggio.

    The special cheese was produced according to an 800-year-old process.

    The court also dismissed German's claim that Parmesan is a generic term, saying it has failed to show that.

    Tuesday's ruling means German producers cannot use the name of Parmesan any more, but the court said it would be up to the Italian authorities to monitor the illegal use of the name in Germany and alert the German authorities.

    Figures showed that official Parmesan sales totaled 1.5 billion euros last year, about 16 percent of which were exports.