About
From 1 December 2025, producers across the European Union and beyond can apply to register their craft and industrial products as geographical indications (GIs) under Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.
What counts as a craft or industrial product?
Under Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, 'craft and industrial products' are goods that are made
- entirely by hand
- with the assistance of manual or digital tools
- or mechanically where manual work is significant.
'Industrial products,' in contrast, are produced in a standardised manner, including serial production and the use of machinery.
Examples include natural stone, woodwork, jewellery, textiles, lace, cutlery, glass, porcelain, and leather goods.
Eligibility criteria
To qualify for geographical indication protection, products must
- have a strong connection to their geographical origin (place, region or country)
- have a quality, reputation, or other characteristic linked to a specific place, region, or country
- include at least 1 stage of production carried out in the specified area.
Why apply
Applying for a GI offers you significant benefits.
It provides legal protection from imitation and misuse. It ensures that only authentic products from the designated origin can use the registered name. A GI also strengthens collaboration among producers to uphold quality standards and preserve traditional skills.
Other benefits include
- competing on authenticity and reputation, not just price
- perpetual rights for long-term security and easier dispute resolution
- access to EU and international markets with a recognised mark of quality and origin
- protection online
- control exercised by public authorities
How to apply
Depending on your location, you will apply through your national competent authority or, in some cases, directly with the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). All steps are explained on our dedicated page.
View the registry
View the Union register, where EU geographical indications for craft and industrial products registrations are to be listed.
More information
EU legislation
- Regulation on geographical indication protection for craft and industrial products
- Implementing regulation on geographical indication protection for craft and industrial products
Helpful resources
- Video - Commission Executive Vice-President Séjourné: Protected Geographical Indications
- Letter from Executive Vice-President Séjourné to EU-based producers and craftspeople
- Factsheet: Geographical Indications (GI) for craft and industrial (CI) products - A Seal of Origin, Quality, and Authenticity
- Geographical Indications from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)