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Protection of geographical indications pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2023/2411

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Protection for craft and industrial products (since 1 December 2025)

Names of products originating in a specific geographical area, the quality, reputation or other characteristics of which are attributable to that particular origin, can be protected as geographical indications.

Uniform protection at EU level, which has so far only been established for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products (agricultural geographical indications – AGRI GIs), will be extended to craft and industrial products (craft and industrial geographical indications – CIGIs). The names of such products can be protected as geographical indications through a central registration valid throughout the Union from 1 December 2025 onwards. The legal basis is externer Link Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 with the German implementing provisions in the Trade Marks Act.

Objective of the new IP right

The objective of the protection as a geographical indication is to promote regional crafts and traditional industries, prevent imitations and safeguard the economic value of the products. Applications for registration can usually only be submitted by producer groups. A registered geographical indication confers a collective right that provides protection against any misuse of the protected name.

Which products can be protected as geographical indications?

All products produced by hand or in a standardised way and by using machines are eligible for protection. This includes watches, cutlery, fabrics, porcelain, woodwork, jewellery, textiles, natural stones and glass.

Requirements for the protection as a geographical indication

  • The product must originate in a specific place, region or country;
  • the quality, the reputation or any other characteristic of the product must be essentially attributable to its geographical origin; and
  • at least one of the production steps must take place in that geographical area.

A product specification including a precise description of the product is drawn up for each product. Only products that comply with these requirements can be offered under the protected geographical indication.

Competences and examination procedure

Important links

Applications for registration of a geographical indication may be filed with the DPMA as the designated competent national authority. Applications can be submitted electronically to the DPMA via the externer Link GIportal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). For paper submissions, the forms for geographical indications must be used.

The examination procedure is a two-stage procedure: in the national phase, the DPMA examines the application, manages a national opposition procedure if necessary and, following the positive completion of the examination, submits the application to the EUIPO. In the second phase, the EUIPO continues the procedure at EU level and takes a final decision on the registration. For additional information, please click externer Link here.

To the extent a specific protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products has so far been possible at national level – in Germany, the designation "Solingen" is protected for cutlery in accordance with the Solingen Ordinance (Solingenverordnung) and the designation "Glashütte" is protected for watches in accordance with the Glashütte Ordinance (Glashütteverordnung) – such national protection will cease to exist on 2 December 2026, unless a valid request for EU-wide protection has been made until that date pursuant to Article 70 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

Union register for craft and industrial products

Names of craft and industrial products for which an application for registration as a geographical indication has been filed or which have been registered as a geographical indication will be entered in the externer Link electronic EUIPO's Union register.

Letter and video message from Executive Vice-President Séjourné to industry and craft businesses in the EU

The Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Stéphane Séjourné, has written a letter to producers and craftspeople in the European Union. In it, he emphasizes that geographical indications for artisanal and industrial products stand for quality, authenticity, and origin. The letter stresses the importance of protecting these products in order to preserve their reputation, combat counterfeiting—including on the internet—and improve access to international markets, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. At the same time, the European Commission underscores the importance of crafts and industry for Europe's cultural and economic heritage. The letter and a video message can be found on the externer Link European Commission's website.

Protection for AGRI products – change of responsibility at national level

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Europe-wide protection as a geographical indication has been possible for AGRI products (wine, spirit drinks, agricultural products) since 1992.

The current legal basis is externer Link Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 (formerly Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012). There are two categories of protection: protected designation of origin (PDO) and protected geographical indication (PGI).

The assessment is carried out in two stages, first by the competent national authority and then by the EU Commission, which also carries out the registration.

At national level, the externer Link Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) is responsible for processing all new applications for AGRI-GIs, including those relating to agricultural products.

Search for protected geographical indications

The Union Register for protected geographical indications is externer Link eAmbrosia. This register contains all indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products applied for or already protected. The externer Link GIview database operated by EUIPO also provides access to all geographical indications protected under EU regulations or international agreements.

In the DPMAregister database, you can additionally find a list of geographical indications with information on the examination procedure at the DPMA.

Geographical indications registered as protected geographical indications or protected designations of origin have to be taken into consideration as absolute grounds for refusal in application procedures or invalidity proceedings under trade mark law and as grounds for opposition in proceedings concerning conflicting signs under trade mark law.

Picture 1: iStock.com/FG Trade, picture 2: iStock.com/valentinrussanov

Last updated: 23 December 2025