From December 1, 2025, European glassmakers, potters, knife and cutlery makers, jewelers, and other manufacturers will be able to register the names of their products under a new EU geographical indication scheme. For the first time, this protection, which has long been available for food and drinks, will be extended to craft and industrial products, finally completing the single market for geographical indications.
The new system will protect iconic products such as Bohemian glass, Limoges porcelain, Solingen knives, and Donegal tweed, whose reputation and quality are linked to their origin. It will safeguard traditional skills, support local jobs, and help consumers identify authentic, high-quality European products. By turning heritage into an opportunity, the scheme will boost regional economies, preserve European cultural identity, and combat counterfeiting both online and offline – within the EU and globally. Manufacturers from outside the EU can also apply for protection if they meet EU requirements.
How to apply
Manufacturers can apply for geographical indication protection through a recognized association or individually if they are the sole producer of a specific product. Applications must include a product specification detailing the name, production steps, and the geographical area of origin, and must be submitted to the competent national authority.
In Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, and Sweden, manufacturers must submit their applications directly to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), which manages the entire procedure in these Member States.
The registration process has two phases.
- National level: – The competent authority first reviews the application and conducts a national objection procedure.
- Raven EU – once this phase is successfully completed, the application is sent to the EU Intellectual Property Office, which conducts the EU-wide opposition procedure and decides on the protection and registration of the craft and industrial name ‘geographical indication’.
The Commission retains the authority to intervene in specific cases where protection and registration may affect public policy or the Union’s trade and external relations.
Additional instructions, templates, and contact points are available in the CIGI hub, managed by the EU Intellectual Property Office. Information on financial and technical support for awareness-raising and capacity-building measures is also available there. Further details on the scheme are available on the website of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW).
“European craft and industrial heritage is a source of pride and prosperity for our regions. By introducing a new system of geographical indications for craft and industrial products, we are not only protecting the unique skills and traditions of our artisans, but also creating new opportunities for growth, jobs, and international recognition. This protection ensures that authentic European products can successfully compete in global markets, strengthening local economies, supporting EU competitiveness, and preserving our cultural identity for future generations.”
Stéphane Séjourné – Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy
Executive Vice-President Séjourné released a video and sent a letter to producers, artisans, and other key stakeholders in the EU, explaining how the new geographical indications system will contribute to building a more competitive and inclusive Union.
Background
Geographical indications are an intellectual property right that links the qualities, reputation, or characteristics of a product to its geographical origin.
The new scheme, established by Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, introduces the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products (GIs) across the entire EU. It builds on more than 30 years of success of the agricultural geographical indications system, which protects over 3,600 names and generates approximately 75 billion euros in annual sales, accounting for about 15% of EU food and drink exports.
The regulation, adopted on October 18, 2023, introduces a single EU geographical indication title for craft and industrial products, enabling producers to prevent the misuse of their names and secure international protection.
Existing national craft and industrial geographical indications will cease to be valid one year after the entry into force of the new regulation, in December 2026.
The geographical indications scheme for craft and industrial products is managed by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) under the supervision of the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), while the Commission retains the authority to intervene in specific cases where registration could affect public policy or the Union’s trade and external relations.
More information
- DG GROW – Geographical indications for craft and industrial products
- DG AGRI – Explanation of geographical indications and quality schemes – Agriculture and rural development
- Video – Executive Vice-President Séjourné presents the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products (GIs) at the EU level
- Video – What unequivocally links certain products to a specific place?
- Video – How to register your name as a geographical indication for craft and industrial products
- Video – Explanation of geographical indications for craft and industrial products
- EUIPO – GI Hub
- Letter from Executive Vice-President Séjourné to producers and craftspeople based in the EU