Geographical indications for craft and industrial products

What are geographical indications?

Geographical indications establish protection for intellectual property rights concerning specific products, whose essential qualities are intricately tied to the production area.

Product names qualify for a 'geographical indication' (GI) when they exhibit a distinct connection to the place of origin, whether rooted in quality, reputation, or characteristic traits. This link must be essentially attributable to the geographical origin, and a prerequisite for GI is the completion of at least one production step in that specific area. The GI recognition enables consumers to trust and distinguish quality products while also helping producers to market their products better.

The EU has had specific GI protection for wines, spirit drinks and other agricultural products and foodstuffs for decades. Champagne or Prosciutto di Parma (ham) are well-known examples of agricultural GIs, a framework already in place since 1992.

From 1 December 2025, craft and industrial (CI) goods will also fully benefit from EU-wide GI protection. 16 November 2023 marked a major milestone with the entry into force of the new Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 on the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products.

The new craft and industrial GI protection system in the EU

The new Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 establishes a unified EU title for the protection of craft and industrial product names across all EU countries. This title is granted to products originating from specific places or regions, possessing qualities, reputation, or characteristics essentially linked to their geographical origin, and involving at least one production step in that area.

Producers of craft and industrial products will have the ability to prohibit the use of these names for similar products produced outside the designated geographical areas. Additionally, the new EU title will also enable EU producers to seek international protection for EU producers seeking to safeguard their geographical indications. Producers from non-EU countries can also pursue protection under this new EU scheme for their renowned craft and industrial products that comply with EU requirements.

Examination and registration of the craft and industrial product geographical indication will occur in 2 phases, first at national level, and then at Union level. Unlike the geographical indication system protecting agricultural products, the entity in charge of the examination and registration at EU level will be the EU Intellectual property Office (EUIPO).

The Commission retains the authority to decide on the approval of a geographical indication application in specific cases. Throughout the examination phase, an opposition procedure will be in place.

Once registered at national level, public authorities are mandated to conduct market controls and checks. Producers can self-declare their compliance with the product specifications and will be strongly supported by regional authorities, which may, in exceptional cases, act as geographical indication applicants.

EU member countries, the EUIPO, the Commission and stakeholders will have 2 years to prepare for the full application of the new system, foreseen on 1 December 2025. Finally, existing national craft and industrial product geographical indications will cease to exist 1 year after the date of application of the regulation, specifically in December 2026.

More information on geographical indications