On Tuesday, 12 September, the European Parliament, gathered for its plenary session, approved—with 616 votes in favour, 9 against, and 7 abstentions—the provisional agreement creating a geographical indication (GI) for certain craft and industrial products (see EUROPE 13174/7). During the debate the previous day, all of the political groups had expressed their satisfaction as far as the content of the text and its expected impact were concerned.
Once in force, this regulation will allow producers to register their GI with national authorities, which will then have one year to submit the file to the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Laguiole knives and Limoges porcelain will now be able to be protected by a GI.
“This is a new system that will better protect the traditions of our regions and that will have a standardised, simplified procedure at the European level”, a pleased Marion Walsmann (EPP), the text’s rapporteur, said, pointing out that “the harmonisation of standards will automatically make it more difficult to create and market counterfeits”.
The regulation moreover provides that small and medium-sized enterprises will receive help from Member States as well as a reduction in the registration fees they are charged for GIs.
The European Council must now definitively adopt the text. (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)