Geographical Indications (GIs) for Craft and Industrial Products – a New EU Protection System
As of 1 December 2025, a new system for the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products came into force across the European Union. Until now, EU-wide protection covered only foodstuffs, wine, and spirits. The new EU system of geographical indication protection now also applies to craft and industrial products whose quality, reputation, or other characteristics are attributable to their geographical origin.
Under the new system, craft products are goods produced entirely by hand or using hand tools, digital tools, or mechanical means, provided that manual input constitutes an essential component of the finished product. Industrial products, in turn, are those manufactured in a standardized manner, including through mass production and the use of machinery. In practice, the new system opens the way to protecting product categories including glass and crystal, ceramic products, clothing, other textile products, jewelry, furniture, tools, cutlery, metal goods, watches/clocks, musical instruments, and paper/cardboard.
Geographical indications are word marks that indicate that a given product originates from a specific place and is produced using local skills and traditions. A product may enjoy protection as a geographical indication if it:
(i) originates from a specific area, country, or region;
(ii) has a quality, reputation, or characteristic linked to that area, country, or region, such as the specificity of raw materials, unique production technology, or a reputation built over generations;
(iii) is produced at least partially in that area, country, or region.
Geographical indications for craft and industrial products are subject to registration at the European Union level, in accordance with EU Regulation 2023/2411. An application to register a geographical indication is assessed in two stages: at the national level (before the Polish Patent Office) and at the EU level (before the EUIPO). Upon registration, a product that is protected as a geographical indication enjoys unlimited legal protection throughout the entire EU, regardless of the form in which it is used. In addition, the producer will be able to use a special visual geographical indication symbol and place it on the product or in marketing communications.
Registration of a geographical indication is an important development tool not only for producers, but also for countries and regions. It also benefits consumers by protecting them against counterfeit goods and unfair competition.
