ALICANTE - The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union came together at the Strasbourg plenary to sign the regulation establishing geographical indication (GI) protection for craft and industrial products. The official signing ceremony took place at 15.15 adjacent to the main Protocol Room in the Hemicycle area, a press release stated by the the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

This legislation was steered by the rapporteur MEP Marion Walsmann, who played a pivotal role in bringing this initiative to fruition.

The law’s primary objective is to establish an EU-wide protection system that safeguards the name of locally renowned crafts and industrial products such as glass, lace or natural stones and, thus, to contribute to the protection of know-how and common heritage. Additionally, it will serve to harmonize the diverse national schemes that have, until now, governed the registration, verification and enforcement of geographical indications. The new system will offer the same level of protection of GIs for agricultural products, while taking into account the different nature of craft and industrial products.

EUIPO and Geographical Indications for Craft and Industrial products

The EUIPO will play an important role in the effective implementation of this new system, especially in terms of managing the registration procedure. The new regulation promises to simplify and streamline the registration of GIs for both craft and industrial products through a cost-efficient process.

Producers will be required to submit their GI applications to the designated authorities of the Member States, who will then forward the successful applications for further evaluation and approval to the EUIPO. Members States that currently do not have a national system in place may request approval for a direct registration procedure to be applicable in their case. If approved, producer groups from those Member States will be allowed to file their applications directly with the EUIPO.
Background of the Regulation

This regulation is one of the key proposals under the Intellectual Property Action Plan, which was presented by the European Commission in November 2020 and in April 2022, the Commission adopted the proposal for a regulation on geographical indications for craft and industrial products.

This signature at the Strasbourg plenary follows the Council’s adoption of the regulation on Monday 9 October, which marked the culmination of the decision-making procedure. This regulatory framework has navigated through all the essential stages and received approval from the European Commission, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament.

Next steps for the Regulation

Following the co-signature at the Strasbourg plenary, this regulation will now be published in the Official Journal of the European Union in early November. Once published, it will enter into force on the twentieth day following the publication. Most of the provisions, including those opening the possibility of filing of applications, will be applicable 25 months later