On 1 December 2025, the EU’s new legal framework for the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products (CIGIs) has become operational with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) opening the application process. Whilst EU-wide GI protection was previously available only for certain wine, spirit drinks, agricultural and food products, producers of craft or industrial products, such as natural stones, woodwork, jewelry, textiles, lace, cutlery, glass, porcelain or musical instruments, can now apply for the registration of their product name as a CIGI. This is a breakthrough for local producers, often family businesses, providing them with an easily accessible, effective tool to safeguard the authenticity of their goods and combat counterfeits and other unfair commercial practices.

What can be protected?

The new system is based on EU Regulation 2023/2411 on the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products[1]. It is supposed to protect iconic goods whose reputation and quality stem from their place of origin such as Bohemian glass, Limoges porcelain, and Solingen knives. The definition of “craft and industrial products” is rather broad comprising products produced either entirely by hand or with the aid of manual or digital tools, or by mechanical means, whenever the manual contribution is an important component of the finished product; or produced in a standardized way, including serial production and by using machines[2]. To qualify for protection by way of a CIGI, the product must (i) originate in a specific place, region or country, (ii) its quality, reputation or other characteristic must be essentially attributable to its geographical origin, and (iii) at least one of the production steps of the product takes place in the defined geographical area[3]. Notably, the new system is also open to geographical indications from non-EU countries.

How does it work?

Producers may apply through a producer group or, under certain circumstances, individually[4]. Each application must include a “product specification” outlining, inter alia, the name, type of product and production steps taking place in the defined geographical area[5]. In most EU Member States, the registration process comprises two phases[6]: A first phase shall be conducted at national level by the designated competent authorities and involve the examination of applications and national opposition procedures. Following the national authority’s favorable decision, the application is assessed by the EUIPO, which handles the EU-wide opposition procedure and decides on protection and registration. Applications for products originating from non-EU countries must be submitted with the EUIPO either by the applicants, or through the competent authorities of their countries.

[1] REGULATION (EU) 2023/2411 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 18 October 2023 and amending Regulations (EU) 2017/1001 and (EU) 2019/1753 (“CIGI Regulation”).

[2] Article 4(1) CIGI Regulation.  

[3] Article 6(1) CIGI Regulation.  

[4] See for details Article 8 CIGI Regulation.

[5] Article 9 CIGI Regulation.

[6] Cf. Article 7 CIGI Regulation. The EU Commission has granted Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, and Sweden a derogation under Article 7(2) insofar as producer groups from these Member States may submit their applications directly with the EUIPO (direct registration procedure v. standard registration procedure).

What to do with it?

A single registration grants protection throughout the EU including the right to use the official EU Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) symbol, the same blue and gold seal already carried by high-quality food and wine[1]. Any producer of a product that is compliant with the corresponding product specification may rely on the registration[2]. In case of infringements, producers can assert claims for cease and desist, disclosure of information, damages and further annex claims. In addition, enforcement shall take place via national authorities, for example customs controls, market surveillance or criminal law enforcement.  

[1] Article 48 CIGI Regulation.

[2] Article 47 CIGI Regulation.