The European Union will extend geographical indications to artisanal and industrial products

The Council has adopted a regulation on geographical indication protection for craft and industrial products. This is the last step in the decision-making procedure.

Once this regulation comes into force, the geographical indications (GI) of industrial products linked to the geographical area of production (such as Albacete cutlery, Bohemian glass, Limoges porcelain) will enjoy similar protection to regionally produced foods or beverages.

The adoption of the craft and industrial GIs regulation will also enable the EU to fully meet its international obligations under the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications. To that end, the Council has also adopted an amendment to the Council decision on the accession of the European Union to the 2015 Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement, so as to designate the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) as the competent authority for the administration of the Geneva Act in the territory of the Union as regards geographical denominations of industrial and craft products.

Council and European Parliament agree to protect geographical indications for artisanal and industrial products

Importance of GI rules

The regulation will establish directly applicable GI protection for craft and industrial products (such as jewellery, textiles, glass, porcelain, etc.) at EU level, complementing the existing EU protection for GIs in the agricultural domain. The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO will play an important role in implementing the new protection system, in particular as regards registration procedures for craft and industrial GIs.

Next steps

Following the Council’s approval of the European Parliaments position on the regulation, the legislative act has now been adopted.

After being signed by the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council in the coming days, the regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, and will enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication, in parallel with the Council decision adopted.

More information: European Council