New EU regulation on the protection of controlled origin marks signed

Brussels – Today (April 11), the new EU Regulation on Geographical Indications was signed. The ceremony was attended by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. Thus officially starts the countdown to the entry into force of the rule that provides greater protection for PDO and IGT marks.

The new regulation provides for greater protection of controlled origin brands (PDO and IGT), both in store sales and online. In this regard, there is a provision for the possibility of blacking out sites, through geoblocking, that market products as trademarked even though they are not. Another novelty concerns foods that contain ingredients with controlled origin: in some cases, these will be able to display the PDO or IGT symbol on the product label.

Gaining benefits from the new regulation will be European farmers and breeders who will be able to prevent and counter commercial practices detrimental to the image and value of their products. Paolo De Castro, MEP for the Socialists (S&D) and rapporteur of the measure, commented, “The regulation is the fruit of 30 years of investment and reform in our agricultural policies.” With the new tools, branded products will be even more competitive and protected. For De Castro, however, “This reform cannot represent a point of arrival, but the beginning of a new phase of development of the PDO and PGI supply chains,” also adding that for producers who know how to make the most of the new regulation, there is enormous potential for growth.