The European Commission launched a public consultation to gather direct input from interested stakeholders for the preparation of the Commission’s future communication and promotion campaign related to craft and industrial geographical indications. In addition, the public consultation also intends to support the Commission in better tailoring the Union’s international policy in the area of geographical indications for craft and industrial products.
The new Regulation[1] (EU) 2023/2411 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023 on the protection of geographical indications (GI) for craft and industrial products (“the CIGI Regulation”) establishes for the first time an EU intellectual property protection scheme for names of industrial and craft products. This protection is granted only to products originating from specific places or regions, possessing qualities, reputation, or characteristics that are essentially linked to their geographical origin, in accordance with Article 22 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights in the World Trade Organisation (‘TRIPs Agreement’). The CIGI Regulation entered into force on 16 November 2023 and will be fully applicable as of 1 December 2025.
Producers of craft and industrial products designated by a geographical indication, supported by the relevant enforcement authorities, will have the ability to prohibit the use of these names, both online and offline, for comparable products produced outside the designated geographical areas or according to different product specifications, hence fighting more effectively counterfeited or fraudulent products. Consumers will also directly benefit from this new craft and industrial geographical indication scheme by improving awareness in relation to the authenticity of products. The scheme will also have a positive economic impact on European regions and EU micro- and small and medium-sized enterprises. It will strengthen their competitiveness, boost employment, help protect traditional know-how, and attract tourism particularly in rural and less-developed regions.
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (“EUIPO”) will be the EU agency responsible for the registration of these GIs at EU level. Additionally, the new EU CIGI Regulation will enable the Union to further support EU producers to seek international protection for their craft and industrial geographical indication in markets outside the EU. Producers from non-EU countries will also be able to pursue protection under this new EU scheme for their renowned craft and industrial products that comply with EU requirements.
To raise awareness of the new system, promote the benefits and the practical steps producers need to take to obtain a craft and industrial geographical indication protection, the European Commission (Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SME), in close coordination with the EUIPO and the EU Member States, is designing a communication, promotion, and outreach campaign. This public consultation intends to gather direct feedback from interested stakeholders to better tailor and design such campaign.
In addition, the public consultation also intends to support the Commission in better tailoring the Union’s international policy in the area of geographical indications for craft and industrial products. The survey therefore will collect input from interested EU producers on their current and future business plans, needs and interests in specific third country markets outside the EU. The collected information will help the Commission to shape the current and future international policy on craft and industrial geographical indications vis-à-vis third countries in relation to concluded, ongoing and future international negotiations.
The collected information will help the Commission to shape the current and future international policy on craft and industrial geographical indications vis-à-vis non EU countries in relation to concluded, ongoing and future international negotiations.
Submit your written contributions and additional comments by 10 October 2024 to the following functional mailbox GROW-CIGI@ec.europa.eu