9. The Commission may adopt implementing acts laying down rules on the submission of the opposition and specifying the format and the online presentation of the reasoned statement of opposition. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 68(2).
Article 26
Admissibility and grounds for opposition
1. An opposition lodged in accordance with Article 25 shall be admissible only if it contains all the information specified in the standard form for the reasoned statement of opposition set out in Annex III.
2. An opposition shall be based on one or more of the following grounds:
(a) the proposed geographical indication does not comply with the requirements for protection laid down in this Regulation;
(b) the registration of the proposed geographical indication would be contrary to Article 42 or 43, or Article 44(2); or
(c) the registration of the proposed geographical indication would jeopardise the existence of an identical or similar name used in the course of trade or of a trade mark, or the existence of products that have been legally on the market for at least five years preceding the date of the publication of the application provided for in Article 22(7).
3. An opposition that is not admissible in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be rejected.
Article 27
Notice of comments procedure
1. Within three months of the date of publication of the single document and the reference to the product specification in the Union register, in accordance with Article 23(7), a competent authority of a Member State or of a third country, or a natural or legal person having a legitimate interest and established or resident in another Member State or in a third country, may lodge a notice of comments with the Office.
2. A notice of comments shall point out any inaccuracy or contain additional information in relation to the application, including possible infringement of other Union law. It shall not confer any rights on its author or trigger an opposition procedure. The notice of comments shall not be based on the grounds for opposition and the author of the notice of comments shall not be considered to be a party to the procedure.
3. The Office shall communicate the notice of comments to the applicant and shall take it into consideration when deciding on the application, except where the notice of comments is unclear or obviously incorrect.
4. The Commission may adopt implementing acts laying down rules on the submission of the notice of comments and specifying its format and online presentation. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 68(2).
Article 28
Transitional periods for the use of a geographical indication
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