Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 of the European Parliament and of the Council of October 18, 2023 on the protection of geographical indications of artisanal and industrial products was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on October 27, 2023. The regulation aims to promote and protect geographical indications (GI) for artisanal or industrial products.
The European authorities were inspired in particular by the Indian model which integrated the protection of such geographical indications into its legal system several years ago. For example, from 2005 and 2006, protection was granted to manufacturers of many fabrics made using a local artisan method (Aranmula Kannadi, Pochampalli Ikat, Salem Fabric or Chanderi Sarees: ipindia.gov.in).
The European regulation sets out the procedures for obtaining and protecting GIs, as well as the conditions for using the GI symbol on products. Of course, the regulation defines the criteria that products must meet in order to benefit from such protection, including the link with a specific geographical area and particular qualities. It establishes a clear framework for the registration and protection of GIs at the European Union level, guaranteeing consumers precise information on the origin and characteristics of these products. The regulation also establishes a specific register for artisanal and industrial GIs, thus improving transparency and accessibility of information for both producers and consumers.
Before the adoption of this new regulation, the geographical indications market was estimated at 77.15 billion euros in 2017. Like any other business sign and like any other value, geographical indications arouse desire and, like brands, are victims of counterfeiting. The organizations that manage geographical indications therefore have every interest in adopting a protection strategy in order to defend producers against counterfeits offered for sale on the various internet spaces (social networks, marketplaces, domain names, etc.).
Source: The regulation (EU) 2023/2411 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023 on the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products (Eur-lex.europa.eu).
