A LAWSUIT launched by retailer Ginseng USA (Holdings) against the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin Inc (GBW) has been settled out of court, according to a GBW official.
''The litigation between the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin and Ginseng USA has been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties,'' said GBW president Larry Berens. He gave no further details.
Ginseng USA, which operates 37 stores in Hong Kong, filed a writ in the Supreme Court in January following statements made by GBW during a press conference.
The company claimed statements made by Ng Chun-man had seriously injured its reputation, business and goodwill.
GBW, a public agency of the State of Wisconsin, has attempted to outmanoeuvre rivals by promoting its so-called Wisconsin Genuine Ginseng Seal Programme, which clearly identifies ginseng from Wisconsin.
GBW says that since the programme's introduction three years ago consumers' awareness of both American and Wisconsin ginseng has sharply increased.