The European Parliament and the EU Council reached a provisional agreement on the regulation creating a geographical indication for certain industrial and craft products on Tuesday 2 May. Two negotiation sessions (‘trilogues’) were enough for the co-legislators to agree on a final text.
This, once in force, will provide intellectual protection for certain industrial and craft products, in the same way as agricultural products or beverages, which benefit from geographical indications (GIs). Certain objects, such as Laguiole knives, Bohemian crystal or Limoges porcelain, may be protected by a GI.
The regulation provides for producers to register their GI with national authorities, which will then submit the application to the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
The European Parliament was keen to ensure in the text that producers could send their application for registration online. National authorities will also need to support SMEs in the preparation of this application.
As for the protection of the products, it will be the same as for the existing Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), according to the agreement reached.
In order to enter into force, the text must still be approved by the European Parliament and then by the Member States. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)