The new EU regulation on geographical indications to locally renowned non-food products 2023-10-30
Last Sept. 12, the European Parliament finally adopted a regulation introducing geographical indication protection for names of locally renowned craft and industrial products with specific qualities, drawing inspiration from similar rules for agricultural products.
The new rules on geographical indication of craft and industrial product names with specific qualities specifically refer to locally renowned non-food products such as, for example, porcelain, natural stones, jewelry, lace and glass.
The adoption of the new regulation will ensure greater consistency with the rules protecting geographical indications of agricultural products by applying the concept of PGIs (protected geographical indications), with the aim of reducing divergence among member states, increasing consumer awareness and strengthening the competitiveness of producers.
An important innovation is the unification of the registration procedure, both on the protection of geographical indications and on controls and enforcement, which will be divided into two stages: the first at the national level and the second at the request of producers to be submitted to the EUIPO.
Member states will be able to choose whether to manage, through a national authority, the registration process or to transfer the management of the entire process to the EUIPO. In addition, within a year, member states will have to inform the European Commission and EUIPO of industrial and craft products that already enjoy protection at the national level and want to be extended to the entire EU.
However, it will take at least 24 months before registration of new geographical indications for craft and industrial products will actually be available, pending approval of the Regulation by the EU Council and then publication in the Official Journal of the EU to enter into force 20 days after publication.
Source: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230911IPR04903/meps-approvenew-
rules-protecting-geographical-indications-of-eu-crafts
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The new rules on geographical indication of craft and industrial product names with specific qualities specifically refer to locally renowned non-food products such as, for example, porcelain, natural stones, jewelry, lace and glass.
The adoption of the new regulation will ensure greater consistency with the rules protecting geographical indications of agricultural products by applying the concept of PGIs (protected geographical indications), with the aim of reducing divergence among member states, increasing consumer awareness and strengthening the competitiveness of producers.
An important innovation is the unification of the registration procedure, both on the protection of geographical indications and on controls and enforcement, which will be divided into two stages: the first at the national level and the second at the request of producers to be submitted to the EUIPO.
Member states will be able to choose whether to manage, through a national authority, the registration process or to transfer the management of the entire process to the EUIPO. In addition, within a year, member states will have to inform the European Commission and EUIPO of industrial and craft products that already enjoy protection at the national level and want to be extended to the entire EU.
However, it will take at least 24 months before registration of new geographical indications for craft and industrial products will actually be available, pending approval of the Regulation by the EU Council and then publication in the Official Journal of the EU to enter into force 20 days after publication.
Source: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230911IPR04903/meps-approvenew-
rules-protecting-geographical-indications-of-eu-crafts