Brussels, 25/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - A protected geographical indication (PGI) system should be considered in the long term for products other than food - for example, local craft products which also have a particular geographical origin or relate to a tradition. This is what the authors of a study - published on 22 March at the request of the European Commission - state, ahead of a European Parliament hearing on the issue soon. No such system currently exists, so, the authors of the study argue, it is necessary to turn to national protection each time - when this exists - or to alternative legal protection, relating to the system of trademarks.
Today we have a series of products protected at national level, like embroidery from Madeira, Solingen knives or Waterford crystal. The study states that the Lisbon Treaty also provides for protection for non-agricultural products - protection which Limoges porcelain enjoys, for example.
The authors are of the view, however, that there needs to be European legislation which unifies this protection at EU level. They evaluate the pros and cons, for example, of opting for a European logo (as is the case for agricultural products). The study was carried out with 700 stakeholders by the Belgian and Swiss consulting companies Insight Consulting and REDD, which are active especially in the quality labels sector, as well as by the Swiss NGO OriGIn, which is also a specialist in PGI and intellectual property. (SP/transl.fl)