EU Council approves new regulation to protect geographical indications

Brussels – Green light for the European Union’s new regulation on protecting quality food products. The EU Council has given final approval to new rules to protect geographical indications (GIs) for wine, spirits and agricultural products, including on the Internet. The regulations will now be signed and published in the Official Journal of the EU and will enter into force 20 days after publication.

Among the new elements is an enhanced role for producer associations, granting them the power and responsibilities to manage their own indications, including representing their members in intellectual property control networks. Under the new rules, member states will have the option of designating producer associations as “recognised producer associations”  with exclusive rights to be exercised on behalf of all producers of the food with an indication of origin label. When only one ingredient of a GI product is used for a processed food, this must be notified to the recognised producer associations, and the ingredient percentage must be indicated.

Again, GIs will also enjoy greater protection on the Internet, in domain names containing geographical indications, through geo-blocking (geographical access barriers). To this end, the EU Intellectual Property Office (Euipo) has been tasked with setting up a domain name information and alert system. The Commission will continue to ensure a thorough examination role for applications for product registrations.

Geographical indications are intellectual property rights that protect the names of products with specific characteristics or qualities or a specific reputation and that are linked to their area of production. Such products are protected against copying or fraud, while the geographical system ensures that they have been manufactured by high standards in their region of origin. In agribusiness, there are three types of quality certifications: Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGIs), which apply to food products and wines, and Geographical Indications (GIs) for spirits.